Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells (dP4)

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are induced from neuroepithelial cells in defined regions within the ventral and dorsal ventricular zone of the spinal cord. Dorsal oligodendrocyte precursor cells originate from dP3, dP4 and dP5 progenitor domains defined by Ascl1(mash1) expression. These cells undergo extensive proliferation and migrate throughout the developing white matter. When a sufficient number of progenitor cells has been generated, oligodendrocyte precursor cells differentiate into pre-myelinating oligodendrocytes.