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Oligodendrocytes

By Julie Stachowiak, Ph.D., About.com

Updated: January 14, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Definition: Type of glial cell that produces myelin.

In multiple sclerosis (MS), symptoms are caused by the immune system attacking and damaging the myelin, causing a lesion. Oligodendrocytes are responsible for trying to replace this myelin through remyelination. However, it appears that in some types of lesions, oligodendrocytes themselves are often destroyed in people with MS.

Also Known As: oligodendroglia
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