Myelin basic protein demonstrated immunocytochemically in oligodendroglia prior to myelin sheath formation.

A specific antibody to myelin basic protein has been used to localize the protein in developing rat oligodendroglia and myelin. Basic protein is found in the oligodendroglial cytoplasm of anterior commissures of 5- and 7-day old rats before the beginning of myelination. Staining of basic protein in oligodendroglia increases, becoming most intense during early myelination; it decreases during rapid myelination. Staining intensity of oligodendroglia is dependent upon age, brain region, and nervous tract studied. In myelin, reaction of basic protein with antibody decreases when large compact sheaths are present, unless tissue sections are first treated with alcohol.