Remyelination follows antibody-induced central nervous system demyelination.

Remyelination after anti-galactocerebroside-induced demyelination in the guinea pig optic nerve was evident 17 days after the onset of demyelination. The tempo of remyelination was uniform for large- and small-diameter axons and progressed, with compaction and thickening of myelin sheaths. Demyelinated axons were found interspersed among remyelinated fibers and were consistently separated from oligodendrocytes by astrocytic processes. These findings indicate that central nervous system remyelination may occur after in vivo antibody-induced demyelination, but that new myelin formation may be limited by mechanical interference from astrocytic processes.