Is it only neurogenesis?
For a long time, the occurrence of neurogenesis in the adult mammalian brain was deemed non-existent or, at best, restricted to phylogenetically old brain regions. The pendulum of current opinion has now swung in the opposite direction with growing awareness that incorporation of labeled precursors into neuronal DNA occurs widely in the brain, and undergoes significant modulation with learning, different kinds of experiential inputs, and a number of physiological manipulations. A thorough review of the literature indicates that unscheduled DNA synthesis may significantly contribute to available evidence. Notably, data interpreted in terms of nerve cell turnover are more likely to reflect turnover of neuronal DNA, as suggested by earlier investigations.
Grassi Zucconi
Gigliola
G
Department of Cell Biology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. gigliola@unipg.it
Giuditta
Antonio
A
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000266:history / Q000378:metabolism*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism
D004247:DNA