English
 
Help Privacy Policy Disclaimer
  Advanced SearchBrowse

Item

ITEM ACTIONSEXPORT

Released

Journal Article

Myelination of the Nervous System: Mechanisms and Functions

MPS-Authors
/persons/resource/persons182320

Nave,  Klaus-Armin
Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Max Planck Society;

/persons/resource/persons182481

Werner,  Hauke B.
Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Max Planck Society;

External Resource
No external resources are shared
Fulltext (restricted access)
There are currently no full texts shared for your IP range.
Fulltext (public)
There are no public fulltexts stored in PuRe
Supplementary Material (public)
There is no public supplementary material available
Citation

Nave, K.-A., & Werner, H. B. (2014). Myelination of the Nervous System: Mechanisms and Functions. Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology, 30, 503-533. doi:10.1146/annurev-cellbio-100913-013101.


Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-001M-0000-002A-F6C3-7
Abstract
Myelination of axons in the nervous system of vertebrates enables fast, saltatory impulse propagation, one of the best-understood concepts in neurophysiology. However, it took a long while to recognize the mechanistic complexity both of myelination by oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells and of their cellular interactions. In this review, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of myelin biogenesis, its lifelong plasticity, and the reciprocal interactions of myelinating glia with the axons they ensheath. In the central nervous system, myelination is also stimulated by axonal activity and astrocytes, whereas myelin clearance involves microglia/macrophages. Once myelinated, the long-term integrity of axons depends on glial supply of metabolites and neurotrophic factors. The relevance of this axoglial symbiosis is illustrated in normal brain aging and human myelin diseases, which can be studied in corresponding mouse models. Thus, myelinating cells serve a key role in preserving the connectivity and functions of a healthy nervous system.