Journal of Comprehensible Results

Although MAG is only one component of myelin, because it is present during the beginning stages of myelination, altering its expression could have down stream affects as well. Similarly, MAG-Fyn interaction is restricted to the early stages of myelination. Other studies, have suggested that MAG acts as a communicator between neurons and oligodendrocytes by interacting with Fyn[9]. Because of this, the increased levels of myelin basic proteins seen in the 0.3 mg/kg/day group could be a result of the increase in MAG-Fyn interaction that was also observed. This relationship could also explain why there was a decrease in myelin basic protein levels in 12 day old rats in the 1 mg/kg/day group since there was not an increase in MAG-Fyn complexes. Studies have also shown that the composition of MAG which is heavily glycosylated changes between early development and adulthood in rats[4], so it could also be hypothesized that the changes in the levels of MAG-Fyn complexes are due to changes in the glycosylation levels of MAG. More studies will need to be done to determine if this is true, as well as to understand the mechanism behind it.

Figure 13: Summary of Results for 12 day age group