Stage-specific cell-surface antigens of oligodendrocytes in the peripheral nervous system. Expression during development and regeneration and in myelin-deficient mutants.

Monoclonal antibodies to stage-specific cell surface antigens of oligodendrocytes have been used to investigate the expression of antigens 05 through 011 in the peripheral nervous system of the mouse by immunohistology. In the adult sciatic nerve antigens 05 through 09 and 011 were diffusely positive. 010 antigen was not detectable in the peripheral nervous system at any age tested. During development antigens 05, 06 and 07 were first detectable at birth in tracts at the proximal part of the sciatic nerve. At day 2 the whole diameter of the nerve was positive for 05 antigen, while antigens 06 and 07 were detectable only in part of the nerve and antigens 08 and 09 were just about to appear. At day 4 antigen 011 was the last to appear. At day 7 all antigens were strongly detectable throughout the nerve. After transection of adult sciatic nerve expression of antigens 05 through 09 and 011 was studied at the proximal and distal ends of the cut. Three days after transection all antigens were fully detectable in the degenerating myelin and its debris. After 15 days residual debris was still distinctly positive, while Schwann cells in the bands of Bünger were antigen-negative. At approximately two weeks a connecting bridge between proximal and distal ends of the cut nerve had developed, but the 0 antigens were not detectable in this bridge until day 21. At day 42 all antigens were again fully detectable in the regenerating nerve. In hypomyelinating mouse mutants no difference to the normal control littermates was seen in staining pattern and intensity for jimpy and shiverer, while quaking showed an increase in staining intensity for 05 through 08 antigens. In trembler antigens 05, 06 and 07, but not 08, 09 and 011 appeared associated with non-myelin-forming Schwann cells, while the few recognizable myelin-forming Schwann cells expressed all antigens. These observations show that we have characterized 4 new monoclonal antibodies as further reagents to look at developmentally distinct steps in myelination of the peripheral nervous system.