Activity-dependent calcium signalling in oligodendrocyte generation

•Throughout postnatal life oligodendrocyte progenitor cells give rise to mature, myelinating oligodendrocytes.•Oligodendrocyte loss is a major pathological feature of the demyelinating disease Multiple Sclerosis.•Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells can produce new oligodendrocytes under healthy and pathological conditions.•The migration, proliferation and differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells is modulated by neuronal activity.•Calcium mediates many cellular processes and may translate neuronal activity into changes in oligodendrocyte progenitor cell behaviour.

Throughout postnatal life oligodendrocyte progenitor cells proliferate and differentiate into mature myelinating oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system. Neuronal activity is a major external signal controlling this process. Neurotransmitters, or other signalling molecules released in response to neuronal activity, evoke transient increases in intracellular calcium in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. As calcium can mediate cellular processes, including the transcription of genes involved in oligodendrocyte progenitor cell division and maturation, a rise in intracellular calcium may be a key signal translating changes in neuronal activity into changes in oligodendrocyte progenitor cell behaviour. Here we review recent advances in our understanding of how neuronal activity can evoke calcium signalling in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells.