Myelination, oligodendrocyte development, and associated neurodevelopmental disorders

The classical description of myelin is that of a multilamellar insulating membrane responsible for the facilitation of rapid “saltatory” conduction of nerve impulses. However, myelin and oligodendrocytes, the cells that make this complex membrane in the central nervous system (CNS), are now recognized as critical regulators of plasticity in the developing brain and spinal cord. For this reason, myelination and oligodendrocyte generation are among the most crucial and vulnerable processes that occur during CNS development. This chapter discusses the myelin functions in axonal growth regulation and maintenance and the multiple factors that control oligodendrocyte generation and differentiation. The complexity and importance of the myelin membrane and oligodendrocytes is further underscored by cognitive and behavioral effects that accompany a growing list of disorders and factors altering myelination.