Development of myelin mosaicism in the optic nerve of heterozygotes of the X-linked myelin-deficient (md) rat mutant.

The oligodendrocyte population of the optic nerve has been suggested to arise either from a radial migration of neuroepithelial cells of the optic stalk or from the longitudinal migration of progenitor cells into the optic nerve from the brain, via the optic chiasm. Female heterozygotes of the X-linked myelin deficient (md) rat trait show a marked mosaic pattern of myelination of the optic nerves. This degree of mosaicism is not observed in other parts of the central nervous system. A total of 235 optic nerves from female rats of from 3 weeks to 24 months of age were examined by light microscopy. Nerves (104), from rats of all ages, showed defects in myelination consisting of distinct patches of non-myelination, often sharply demarcated from adjacent areas of normally myelinated axons. In some animals the abnormality was grossly apparent as areas of transparency within the intact optic nerves. In the majority of optic nerves showing mosaicism, defects in myelination were observed along the whole length of the nerve. However, a worsening of the defect toward the retinal end of the nerve was noted in 15 optic nerves, and an additional 11 nerves showed a defect in this region alone. It was also found that a number of rats had mosaicism in only one optic nerve. The preferential involvement of the retinal end of the optic nerves, and the asymmetrical involvement of the optic nerves within individual rats, is interpreted as indirect evidence in support of the proposed longitudinal migration of the oligodendrocyte precursor into the optic nerve.