How calcium orchestrates oligodendrocyte development and myelination

Oligodendrocyte lineage cells (OLCs) are essential for the formation and maintenance of functional neuronal networks. 

Synaptic and extrasynaptic pathways provide inputs to OLCs, which are integrated as Ca2+ signals.

Ca2+ signals in OLCs exhibit diverse characteristics in amplitude, duration, frequency, location, and size, varying within individual cells and across the lineage based on input nature and strength.

The integration of Ca2+ signaling dynamics, referred to as the ‘Ca2+ code’, governs key fate decisions in OLCs, including proliferation, differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells, and myelin sheath formation by mature oligodendrocytes.

https://www.cell.com/trends/neurosciences/fulltext/S0166-2236(25)00052-9

https://sciencemission.com/calcium-dynamics-and-oligodendrocyte-development-and-myelination