Peptides from regenerating central nervous system promote specific populations of macroglia.

The regenerating central nervous system of goldfish contains peptides referred to as glia-promoting factors (GPFs) that stimulate the proliferation of mammalian macroglia. We find that, in vitro, GPF1 and GPF3 promote the appearance of oligodendroglia and GPF2 and GPF4 stimulate proliferation of astroglia. The activities of GPF1, GPF3, and GPF4 increase during regeneration of the goldfish visual system. These results suggest that brain peptides may play a role in the recovery of the injured central nervous system by regulating the growth and development of specific macroglial populations.