Rat oligodendrocytes have cell adhesion molecules.

The aggregation of isolated oligodendrocytes appears to be mediated by cell adhesion molecules. The cell adhesion molecules are inactivated by trypsin. Regeneration of the adhesion molecules is prevented by inhibitors of either protein synthesis or glycosylation. An immunological assay is described to quantitate the molecules involved in oligodendrocyte adhesion based on the following criteria: (a) treatment of oligodendrocytes with rabbit immunoglobulins against oligodendrocyte-conditioned medium prevented their aggregation; and (b) incubation of these immunoglobulins with oligodendrocyte-conditioned medium neutralized their ability to inhibit aggregation.