The role of prostaglandins in myelination and axonal protection by oligodendrocytes

前列腺素（PG）F2 α在中枢神经系统中的生理作用尚未阐明。我们研究了PG 2 α在少突胶质细胞谱系细胞中的功能，因为我们之前的研究揭示了前列腺酰胺/PGF合酶（小鼠中枢神经系统中主要的PGF 2 α产生酶）在少突胶质细胞中的定位。我们证实了前列腺酰胺/PGF合成酶的表达，PGF 2 α的产生，以及对外源性PGF 2 α的反应，在少突胶质细胞中细胞内钙浓度的增加。PGF 2 α似乎是少突胶质细胞系细胞在其早期发育中的生存所必需的，因为前列腺酰胺/PGF脱氢酶敲除小鼠的少突胶质细胞前体在没有PGF 2 α补充的情况下无法生存。相反，基因敲除小鼠的少突胶质细胞系细胞在分化刺激下表现出正常的成熟。

Physiological roles of prostaglandin (PG) F2alpha in central nervous system have not been elucidated. We studied the function of PG2alpha in oligodendrocyte-lineage cells, since our previous study revealed oligodendroglial localization of prostamide/PGF synthase, a major PGF2alpha-producing enzyme in mouse central nervous system. We confirmed expression of prostamide/PGF synthase, production of PGF2alpha, and an increase in intracellular calcium concentration in response to exogenous PGF2alpha, in oligodendrocytes. PGF2alpha seemed to be essential for survival of oligodendrocyte-lineage cells in their early development, since oigodendrocyte precursors from prostamide/PGF synthase-knockout mice were not able to survive without PGF2alpha supplementation. In contrast, oligodendrocyte-lineage cells from knockout mice showed normal maturation in response to differentiation stimuli.