Developmental myelinogenesis and galanin: in vivo and in vitro

Abstract

Correct myelin formation and maintenance is essential for normal functioning and is affected in the demyelinating disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS). To better understand this disease and identify important targets in promoting remyelination, the study of developmental myelination is important. Galanin, a 29 amino acid neuropeptide has been identified as a potentially important modulator in early myelin development. In our Galanin transgenic mouse model, myelin basic protein (MBP) levels are highly elevated at postnatal day 10 compared to the wild type. A preliminary investigation of Galanin’s behavior at various doses in vitro, yielded results that agreed with Galanin’s effect in vivo. Proteolipid protein (PLP) was highly elevated in the 10nM dose in vitro indicating Galanin exerts its effects in a time and dose dependent manner. Overall, this study identifies Galanin as a potentially important modulator of developmental myelination that may become a therapeutic target in future studies of demyelinating diseases.