Oligodendrocytes Research Paper

Oligodendrocytes, as other glial cells, are responsible to support neurons. It can be mainly found in the gray matter, which is the major element of CNS and composed of neuronal cells. During development, oligodendrocytes derived from precursors, which located in subventricular zone of the lateral ventrices. In the spinal cord, 85-90% of oligodendrocytes originate from a specific area of the ventral ventricular zone and the others arise from dorsal spinal cord. Oligodendrocytes along with Schwann cells are also responsible to generates myelin, the fatty white layer that preserve, wrap, and insulates nerve fibers. In the CNS, each oligodendrocytes able to form myelin around multiple axons whereas in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), each Schwann
Along unmyelinated axons, electrical signals are shifting smoothly just as if it is a wave. On contrast, along myelinated axons, the signals are “jumping” due to the process called saltatorary conduction. An area of which myelinated axons are unmyelinated is labeled as the nodes of ranvier. Considering myelin act as an insulator, myelinated fibers aren’t capable to conduct impulses. Therefore along myelinated axons, action potentials can only take place on the nodes and thus, making it “jump” from nodes to nodes. By forcing the electric charge to “jump”, the conduction on myelinated axons moves faster than those axons that are unmyelinated.

Myelination for human began since the 14th week of prenatal development and this process will only be completed until someone reaches 20 up to 30 year of age. Myelination firstly takes place at the brain stem and cerebellum, and lastly expanding to the frontal lobes. Some of frontal lobe function includes decision-making, complex planning, and logical thinking. Thus, scientists presume that as myelin expands, the ability for someone to make a better judgment and assessment of situation will improve as