Oligodendrocytes and Glucocorticoid Receptors
There is an important link between high levels of cortisol and damage to oligodendrocytes.
In the most general terms of association, some of the glucocorticoid receptors whose negative feedback help control high levels of cortisol are in the white matter of the brain. Damage to oligodendrocytes affect these receptors; so do high levels of cortisol. There is also a glutamate toxicity- oligodendrocyte-glucocorticoid connection.
Again, as an overview, two glutamate related drugs, lamictal and topiramate are effective. Another drug, Seroquel/quetiapine, lowers cortisol levels and positively affects oligodendrocytes. These are addressed in other blogs, but I hope to get into more about the specifics and the apparent cause and effects later.
