The proliferation of mature oligodendrocytes in vitro is stimulated by basic fibroblast growth factor and inhibited by oligodendrocyte-Type 2 astrocyte precursors

Quiescent mature oligodendrocytes (OL) expressing myelin basic protein (MBP) in OL cultures were treated for 3 days with cytosine arabinoside (ARA-C) to kill O-2A precursors which separate in chemically established medium. An examination of the treated OL reveals the influence of the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). The O-2A progenitors regulate the proliferation of a subpopulation of mature OL through the bFGF. Stimulated OL proliferation after treatment with ARA-C was lowered by half by conditioned medium from O-2A precursors.