Incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA and of [35S]sulfate into sulfatides of oligodendroglial cells during development: effect of malnutrition.

Incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA and of [35S]sulfate into sulfatides of oligodendroglial cells isolated from brain slices incubated with the radioactive precursor was studied in normal and malnourished rats at different ages. The pattern and the values of incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA were similar in both groups of animals. The maximum value of incorporation was observed at 7 days of age decreasing rapidly thereafter and leveling off between 18-21 days. In both groups of animals labeling of sulfatides attained a maximum at 18 days of age, showing similar values of incorporation up to that age. However, at 21 days of age; the values corresponding to malnourished rats were found to be 40% lower in comparison to controls. The results suggest that (a) proliferation of oligodendroglial cells stops at similar ages in normal and malnourished rats, (b) expression of sulfatide synthesis by oligodendroglial cells is similar in both groups of animals up to 18 days, and (c) the starved rats seem to be unable to maintain a normal synthesis of these galactolipids throughout the entire period of active myelinogenesis.