Aerosol matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) has been combined with a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer for improved mass resolution. A methanol solution of matrix and analyte was sprayed directly into a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer, and the aerosol particles were irradiated and ionized with a frequency-tripled Nd:YAG laser at 355 nm. Mass resolution of over 300 was observed for the peptides bradykinin, angiotensin II, and gramicidin D and for vitamin B(12). This represents a resolution enhancement of approximately 10-fold over that previously reported for aerosol MALDI with a linear time-of-flight instrument.

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The neuronal cell surface is believed to carry a mitogenic signal for peripheral glial cells. We have purified a mitogen from fetal bovine brain membranes that, in common with the PNS neuronal mitogen, stimulates the proliferation of Schwann cells in vitro and binds heparin. The purified mitogen has an apparent molecular weight of 50,000 daltons as estimated by elution of activity from non-reducing polyacrylamide gels. Since the developing central nervous system is a rich source of mitogen, we tested whether the protein is mitogenic for one or more cell types isolated from the developing brain. Purified mitogen was added to enriched cultures of astrocytes or developing oligodendrocytes, or to microglial cells. The analyses demonstrated that the protein is mitogenic for developing oligodendrocytes but not astrocytes or microglial cells. These results suggest that during development a membrane-associated mitogen present in the brain might regulate the proliferation of developing oligodendrocytes, and consequently, the population size of oligodendrocytes in the brain.

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