Expression of biochemical properties of oligodendrocytes in oligodendrocyte x glioma cell hybrids proliferating in vitro

In order to generate cell lines that grow continuously in tissue culture and that express the biochemical properties of oligodendrocytes (the cells which produce myelin in the central nervous system), we isolated oligodendrocytes from calf brain and fused them with C₆ rat glioma cells. Of the 60 hybrid clones tested, several expressed oligodendroglial properties at levels comparable to isolated oligodendrocytes. In particular, hybrid clone CO-13-7 showed a high level of expression of all six oligodendroglial properties tested: 2′ : 3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphohydroiase, glycero-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and induction of GPDH by hydrocortisone, all of which were also found in C₆ cells and in oligodendrocytes; and galactocerebroside, sulfatide, and myelin basic protein, which were found in normal oligodendrocytes but not in C₆ glioma cells. Therefore, the hybrids express a spectrum of oligodendrocyte biochemical properties that is not found in any other cell line that can be maintained continuously in tissue culture.