Fig. 3. Oligodendrocyte Heterogeneity.

a Remyelinating efficiency differences are observed between the gray matter and the white matter, oligodendrocytes in the former remyelinate more efficient than the latter, where oligodendrocytes have a higher capacity to differentiate. b Oligodendrocytes show regional differences, in the brain forming shorter myelin sheaths than in the spinal cord. c Oligodendrocyte differences exist during the lifespan, when during early postnatal life oligodendrocytes form compact myelin and longer myelin sheaths, and can create bridges forming sequential myelin sheaths known as ‘bridging myelin sheaths’. In adulthood and ageing, myelin sheaths are shorter and uncompact, leading to myelin unravelling and loss of the bridging myelin sheaths. Created using BioRender.com.