[Abstract Title]. - Society for Neuroscience

wild type: 29%) and RS cells (neuropathic: 16%, wild type: 22%). Membrane excitability of RS
and IB neurons from neuropathic or wild type animals was indistinguishable. For IM cells, the
action potential in neuropathic pain neurons has wider half width (neuropathic: 1.57 ± 0.02 ms,
sham-treated: 1.46 ± 0.05 ms), slower decay slope (neuropathic: -37.9 ± 3.1 mV/ms, wild type: -
45.7 ± 1.9 mV/ms) and longer decay time (neuropathic: 1.96±0.12 ms, wild type: 1.63±0.06 ms).
The present results indicate that the peripheral nerve injury, which gives rise to neuropathic pain,
produces profound changes in the action potential waveform of cingulate pyramidal neurons in a
cell type-specific fashion.
Disclosures: X. Cao , EJLB–Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Michael Smith
Chair in Neurosciences, B. Research Grant (principal investigator, collaborator or consultant and
pending grants as well as grants already received); H. Xu, None; L. Wu, None; M. zhuo, None.
Poster
241. Glial Neuronal Interactions
Time: Sunday, November 16, 2008, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Program#/Poster#: 241.1/F7
Topic: B.11.b. Cell biology and signalling
Support: Startup Fund from Texas A&M University
Title: Modulation of Notch signaling enhances CNS myelination in aggregate cultures
Authors: *H. KOITO, J. LI;
Dept of Vet Integrative Biosci, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX
Abstract: Myelination is essential for the development and function of the nervous system in
vertebrates. Dysfunction of myelin or myelin-forming oligodendrocytes (OLs) in the CNS
contributes to many neurological deficits associated with, for example, multiple sclerosis,
cerebral palsy, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer‟s diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms
that control CNS myelination remain poorly understood. To address the question how CNS
myelination is initiated and regulated, we developed an in vitro CNS myelination system in
which cell aggregates prepared from rat E16 forebrains were co-cultured with oligodendrocyte
precursors. The CNS cell aggregates were composed of progenitors of neurons, astrocytes and
OLs, and were cultured in a serum-free medium for up to 4 weeks. Radial growth of axons was
evident after 1 or 2 days in culture (DIV) and was extensive around 2 weeks. Glial progenitors
migrated out of the aggregates and gradually differentiated into OLs and astrocytes over the
course of culturing. Exogenous OL precursors were added to the aggregate cultures at DIV 10 to
increase the number of OLs. Many OL processes aligned with axons and started to ensheath