Remyelination in the medulla oblongata of adult mouse brain during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is primarily used as an animal model of autoimmune demyelinating disease, multiple sclerosis. In this study, we found the proliferative rate of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) in the medulla elevated twofold above control levels during EAE and new generation of mature oligodendrocytes was increased as well. Although astrocytes showed hypertrophic reactive phenotype, a new generation of them was rare. Astrocyte- and tanycyte-like neural stem cells (NSCs), multipotent NSCs, did not augment their low proliferative rate. Thus, the present study demonstrates that resident OPCs derived from NSCs contribute to remyelination in the medulla oblongata in EAE mice.