Oligodendrocyte precursor (O-2A progenitor cell) migration; A model system for the study of cell migration in the developing central nervous system

Cell migration plays an important role in the development of complex multicellular organisms. The molecular mechanisms that regulate this migration are therefore of great interest. Unfortunately, however, analysis of cell migration in vertebrates is hampered by the inaccessability of the cells and the difficulty of manipulating their environment within the embryo. This review focusses on one particular migratory cell population, the oligodendrocyte precursor cell or O-2A progenitor cell, that gives rise to the myelin-forming oligodendrocytes within the CNS. These cells migrate extensively during normal development. They can be purified and grown in large numbers in cell culture, so allowing the use of reductionist approaches using cell and molecular biology techniques. Moreover, cultured cells will migrate within the CNS following transplantation. As a result, the migration of these cells in vivo can be analysed following manipulation in vitro. Taken together, we believe that the different properties of these cells makes them excellent candidates for studies addressing the control of cell migration in the developing nervous system.