A HISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF OXIDATIVE ENZYMES 



IN MYELINATING CULTURES OF CENTRAL 



AND PERIPHERAL NERVOUS TISSUE* 



T. YONEZAWA, M. B. BORNSTEIN, E. R. PETERSON 

 and M. R. MURRAY 



Laboratory for Cell Physiology, Columbia University, Collège of 

 Physicians and Surgeons, New York 



Exceptionally high oxygen consumption and glucose utilization character- 

 ize central nervous tissue. Thèse functions appear to be linked metaboli- 

 cally. Organized tissue cultures of the mammalian nervous system require 

 an elevated glucose ration for maintenance, and especially for the develop- 

 ment of myelin. Optimal myelin formation in cultures of new born rat 

 cerebellum occurs at a glucose level of 500-600 mg per cent. 



An attempt has been made hère to examine more specifically the glucose 

 utilization by varions cell types présent in central and peripheral nervous 

 tissues (cerebellum and spinal ganglia) before, during and after myeliniza- 

 tion in vitro. Thus the pattern and time séquence in reactivity of succinic 

 dehydrogenase, DPN and TPN diaphorases were demonstrated by incubat- 

 ing the cultures in solutions of their respective substrates in the présence 

 of blue nitrotetrazolium as an électron acceptor. 



During the whole course of cultivation Purkinje cells and neurons 

 from the dentale nucleus show high activity of ail three enzymes. Granule 

 cells are low in activity; localization corresponding in distribution with 

 their sparse mitochondria. 



Two types of macroglia show différent patterns. In astrocytes, reaction 

 granules are diffusely distributed throughout the perikarya and processes 

 from the beginning of cultivation. In oligodendroglia, however, the pattern 

 changes significantly. At 7 days thèse cells react only in the péri- and 

 juxtanuclear area; but at 13-17 days, coincident with the appearance of 

 myelin, reaction granules are always dispersed throughout the processes 



*Supported by National Multiple Sclerosis Society and U .S. Public Health 

 Service Grant B-858. 



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