Astrocytes support incomplete differentiation of an oligodendrocyte precursor cell.

Abstract
Glial fibrillary acidic protein‐positive astrocytes, but not neurons or fibroblasts, support the differentiation of an oligodendroglial precursor cell expressing O4 antigen and vimentin into an O4 antigen‐positive, but vimentin‐negative oligodendrocyte. Further maturation into galactocerebroside (O1)‐positive oligodendrocytes is, however, not achieved under the culture conditions used, neither in the presence of astrocytes nor neurons.