In order to elucidate the effects of triethyllead (Et3Pb) on the development of oligodendroglial cells (OG) in primary cultures of newborn rat brain, the expression of the OG marker enzyme UDP-galactose:ceramide galactosyltransferase (CGalT) was studied. The results show that CGalT activity increased about three times compared to the control level of enzyme activity, when 5-day-old cultures were exposed for 16 days to 2.5 x 10-9M Et3Pb in the culture medium. Using anti-CGalT antibodies in immunohistochemical studies, it appeared that the increase in CGalT activity in Et3Pb-treated cultures was accompanied by an increase in the number of oligodendroglial cells.
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2.
NeskovicN.M., RousselG., and NussbaumJ.L. (1986). UDP-galactose: ceramide galactosyltransferase of rat brain: a new method of purification and production of specific antibodies.Journal of Neurochemistry47, 1412–1418.
3.
RousselG., NussbaumJ.L., Espinosa De Los MonterosA., and NeskovicN.M. (1987). Immunocytochemical localization of UDP-galactose: ceramide galactosyltransferase in myelin and oligodendroglial cells of rat brain.Journal of Neurocytology16, 85–92.
4.
GrundtI.K., NeskovicN.M., and RousselG. (1987). A culture system for the detection of toxic effects on oligodendroglia development. In Model Systems in Neurotoxicology—Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing (ed. ShaharA.) pp 77–84. New York: Alan R. Liss, Inc.
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RousselG., LabourdetterG., and NussbaumJ.L. (1981). Characterization of OL in primary cultures from brain hemispheres of newborn rat.Developmental Biology81, 372–378.
6.
GrundtI.K., and NeskovicN.M. (1985). UDP-galactose: ceramide galactosyltransferase and 2'3’-cyclic-nucleotide 3’-phosphodiesterase activities in rat brain after long-term exposure to methylmercury and triethyllead.Experimental Neurology88, 580–589.
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