The contribution of glial cells to the neuropathology and phenotype of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has become a focus for basic and translational research. Whereas astrocytes and microglia are studied in great detail, the contribution of oligodendrocytes has been relatively neglected. Oligodendrocytes, one of the most important glial cells of ectodermal origin, serve to endow axons with myelin sheaths that are important for the propagation of signals in the CNS. Very recently, it has been demonstrated that they also contribute to axonal energy supply and metabolism (Lee et al. , 2012). Oligodendrocytes have been shown to contribute to the neuropathology of ALS (Neumann et al. , 2007; Seilhean et al. , 2009; MacKenzie et al. , 2011). In some subforms of the disease, such as that seen in SOD1D90A mutation carriers, there is evidence that the pyramidal tracts are demyelinated, but research on their functional contribution to the disease process is in its early stages. Now, in work that is complementary …