Remyelination properties of human embryonic nerve cells in the course of long-term cultivation

We studied the mitogenic and differentiation potential and the remyelination properties of human embryonic nerve cells in culture. After 1 month of cultivation without differentiation agents, a 3.6-fold increase in the number of CNP-positive cells (the mitotically active precursors of oligodendrocytes) was observed. At the same time, the number of GalC-positive cells (mature oligodendrocytes) remained low. The remyelination properties of embryonic nerve cells can thus be explained by a high density of oligodendrocyte precursors. After cultivation, the population of cells maintained and enhanced their remyelination potential by increasing the number of CNP-positive cells under conditions of experimental demyelination.