Development of oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells studied with a monoclonal antibody against galactocerebroside (galactosphingolipids/myelin-specific components/immunofluorescence/cell culture)

We have generated a hybridoma cell line se- creting a monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to the sur- faces of oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells, the cells involved in myelin formation in the central and peripheral nervous systems, respectively. Binding studies using purified sphingolipids showed that this antibody reacts strongly with galactocerebroside (GalC), the major galactosphingolipid of myelin. The antibody was used in conjunction with rabbit antisera against sulfatide, the sulfated form of GalC, to examine the developmental appearance of these lipids on the surfaces of oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells. In addition, the loss of GaIC and sulfatide from freshly dissociated Schwann cells was compared. These studies showed that GaIC is expressed on the cell surface prior to sulfatide on both of these cell types in vivo and in vitra Conversely, dissociated Schwann cells lose their cell surface sulfatide more rapidly than they lose their surface GalC under nonmyelinating conditions. Certain lipids and proteins are thought to be predominantly found in myelin (1). Among these are the galactosphingolipids, galactocerebroside (GalC) and sulfatide. Despite their myelin association, the relationship of these lipids to the development of oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells (the myelin-forming cells of the central and peripheral nervous systems, respectively) has