Transferrin, carbonic anhydrase C and ferritin in dissociated murine brain cell cultures.

It is shown here that transferrin (Tf), the iron transport protein and carbonic anhydrase C (CA C) are specifically located within oligodendrocytes in murine brain cell cultures. Ferritin (F), the major iron storage protein, was demonstrated in oligodendrocytes, as well as in astrocytes and microglial cells and was more prominent in the former. CA C and Tf were seen first after 6-7 days in culture. CA C and F positivity increased rapidly and at day 20, 80-85% of galactocerebroside + oligodendrocytes were positive for both proteins. Only a small number of oligodendrocytes was Tf+ up to day 14, after which their numbers increased rapidly until day 20, when 67% of the oligodendrocytes were Tf+. Because of the presence of Tf and F in oligodendrocytes it is suggested that these cells may play an important role in the metabolism of iron within the central nervous system.