Identification of astrocyte- and oligodendrocyte-like cells of goldfish optic nerves in culture.

Fish glial cells were obtained from cultivated segments of the optic nerve and raised in vitro. Two types of cells were identified as astrocyte- and oligodendrocyte-like glia by the monoclonal antibody Mab O1 (specific for oligodendrocytes) and the rabbit serum anti-goldfish glial fibrillary acidic protein (anti-G-GFAP). Cells of compact morphology were rare, and anti-G-GFAP positive and O1 negative. Multipolar cells in 5-day-old cultures were anti-G-GFAP but rarely O1 positive. In 5-week-old cultures, however, roughly 75% of the multipolar cells were double-labeled with both anti-G-GFAP and O1; 10% were single labeled with Mab O1 and 15% with anti-G-GFAP, respectively.