Detection of Wolfgram W1 protein, myelin basic proteins and proteolipids in cultured oligodendrocytes by the electro-immunoblotting method.

Oligodendrocytes, mechanically obtained from primary cultures of newborn rat brain, were investigated by a sensitive electro-immunoblotting method for the presence of the characteristic myelin proteins: Wolfgram W1 protein, basic proteins and proteolipids. These three major myelin protein types were detectable from the 20th to the 40th day in culture. The present biochemical findings are in accordance with previous immunohistochemical data and provide additional evidence that oligodendrocytes in culture are capable of synthesizing every myelin and oligodendrocyte marker found in vivo, in the absence of neurones.