Figure 1.

Tnc substrates inhibit MBP expression in cultured rat oligodendrocytes. A, Oligodendrocytes cultivated on P-Orn or various ECM substrates and labeled by immunocytochemistry for O4 and MBP are shown. Nuclei are marked in blue (Hoechst stain). B, The fraction of O4-positive immature oligodendrocytes was unaffected by the substrate conditions, including Tnc (n = 5). Data are expressed as mean ± SD. C, The fraction of MBP-positive mature oligodendrocytes is reduced on Tnc, but not on laminin (Ln1) or Fibronectin (Fn) (*p < 0.05, n = 5). Data are expressed as mean ± SD. D, Immunoblots for MBP of oligodendrocytes cultured on increasing amounts of Tnc substrate reveal a dose-dependent reduction in MBP expression. Tubulin served as loading control (α-Tub). E, RT-PCR analysis of RNA extracts showing that Mbp mRNA levels were selectively reduced after cultivation on a Tnc substrate. Scale bar, 100 μm.