Early proliferation does not prevent the loss of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells during the chronic phase of secondary degeneration in a CNS white matter tract

Abstract

Partial injury to the central nervous system (CNS) is exacerbated by additional loss of neurons and glia via toxic events known as secondary degeneration. Using partial transection of the rat optic nerve (ON) as a model, we have previously shown that myelin decompaction persists during secondary degeneration. Failure to repair myelin abnormalities during secondary degeneration may be attributed to insufficient OPC proliferation and/or differentiation to compensate for loss of oligodendrocyte lineage cells (oligodendroglia). Following partial ON transection, we found that sub-populations of oligodendroglia and other olig2+ glia were differentially influenced by injury. A high proportion of NG2+/olig2-, NG2+/olig2+ and CC1-/olig2+ cells proliferated (Ki67+) at 3 days, prior to the onset of death (TUNEL+) at 7 days, suggesting injury-related cues triggered proliferation rather than early loss of oligodendroglia. Despite this, a high proportion (20%) of the NG2+/olig2+ OPCs were TUNEL+ at 3 months, and numbers remained chronically lower, indicating that proliferation of these cells was insufficient to maintain population numbers. There was significant death of NG2+/olig2- and NG2-/olig2+ cells at 7 days, however population densities remained stable, suggesting proliferation was sufficient to sustain cell numbers. Relatively few TUNEL+/CC1+ cells were detected at 7 days, and no change in density indicated that mature CC1+ oligodendrocytes were resistant to secondary degeneration in vivo. Mature CC1+/olig2- oligodendrocyte density increased at 3 days, reflecting early oligogenesis, while the appearance of shortened myelin internodes at 3 months suggested remyelination. Taken together, chronic OPC decreases may contribute to the persistent myelin abnormalities and functional loss seen in ON during secondary degeneration.

Figure 1. Oligodendroglia subpopulations of varying maturity in adult control ON.

A: Schematic diagram illustrates changes in the expression of NG2 and CC1 markers, and olig2 transcription factor across oligodendroglia subpopulations . Oligodendroglia and olig2+ glia were identified with combinations of antibodies to NG2 (B, D) and olig2 (C, D), or CC1 (E, G) and olig2 (F, G). D: Cells indicated are NG2+/olig2– (>), NG2+/olig2+ (>>) or NG2−/olig2+ (>l). G: Cells indicated are CC1+/olig2– (>) or CC1+/olig2+ (>>). H: Desmin+ cells (>) were not NG2+ (>>). Olig2 staining colocalises with Hoechst nuclear stain (I) and Nkx2.2+ nuclei (J). K: MBP+ myelin surrounds CC1+ oligodendrocyte somata. L: GFAP immunoreactivity surrounds some olig2+ nuclei (example >) but does not colocalise with CC1 (>>). M: Quantification of immunopositive oligodendroglia in control ON was expressed as the mean density of cells per mm² ± S.E. Scale bars: B–G: 20 µm, H–L: 10 µm.

Figure 2. Proliferation of oligodendroglia subpopulations following partial ON transection.

Oligodendroglia and other olig2+ glia were identified with antibodies to NG2 (A), olig2 (B) and Ki67 (C), or with CC1 (E), olig2 (F) and Ki67 (G). D: Cells indicated are Ki67+/NG2+/olig2+ (>) and Ki67−/NG2+/olig2+ (>>). H: Cells indicated are Ki67+/CC1+/olig2+ (>) and Ki67−/CC1+/olig2+ (>>). Proliferating Ki67+/IBA1+ cells (I, indicated by >) and to a lesser extent Ki67+/GFAP+ cells (J) were observed after injury; representative examples at 3 days shown. K–P: Quantification of the mean density ± S.E of oligodendroglia and other olig2+ glia populations following partial transection. Densities of Ki67– cells are represented by black bars while densities of Ki67+ cells are represented by red bars and differences from control indicated by Δ(p≤0.05). Overall differences in total density (combined Ki67+ and Ki67– values) compared to control are indicated by *(p≤0.05). Q: Summary graph of Ki67+ mean densities of all oligodendroglia and other olig2+ glia subpopulations. Scale bar A–H: 20 µm, I–J: 10 µm.

Figure 3. Death of oligodendroglia subpopulations following partial ON transection.

Dying oligodendroglia and other olig2+ glia were identified with antibodies to NG2 (A), olig2 (B) and TUNEL (C), or with CC1 (E) and TUNEL (F). D: Cells indicated are TUNEL+/NG2+/olig2+ cells (>). G: The cell indicated is TUNEL+/CC1+ (>). Scale bar A–G: 20 µm. H–K: Quantification of the mean ± S.E density of oligodendroglia and other olig2+ glia following partial transection. Densities of TUNEL- cells are represented by the black bars while densities of TUNEL+ cells are represented by green bars and differences indicated by Δ(p≤0.05). Overall differences in total density (combined TUNEL+ and Ki67– values) compared to control are indicated by *(p≤0.05). L: Summary graph of TUNEL+ mean densities of all oligodendroglia and other olig2+ glia subpopulations.

Figure 4. Myelin internode length following partial ON transection.

Representative images of a single slice from the z stacks show ventral axons of control animals (A) and at 3 months following injury (B) anterogradely traced with CTB (green); paranodes are immunohistochemically labelled with Caspr and nodes with Nav1.6. C: The length of myelin internodes (indicated by <) under 110 µm were measured between paranodes (Caspr+ structures, red, confirmed by the presence of Nav1.6+ sodium channels, blue, at the node, indicated by brackets) and the data range, 25% and 75% percentile, median and mean (indicated by *) were displayed in the box plot. D: Mean number of internodes visible per FOV ± S.E (*p<0.05). Scale bar: 20 µm.