Neurogenesis in the adult brain.
Neurogenesis is a process that involves cell proliferation, migration and differentiation. Adult neurogenesis has been discovered by Altman in the mid 1960s. It is known now that neurogenesis occurs in two main neurogenic areas of the adult mammalian brain: the olfactory bulb and the hippocampal dentate gyrus, although other brain regions, such as cortex or substantia nigra cannot be excluded. The rate of neurogenesis can be regulated in a positive and negative manner by several factors like, age, growth factors, hormones, environmental or pharmacological stimuli. Functional significance of adult neurogenesis is still under investigation, however, several evidences suggest involvement of newly generated neurons in cognitive processes. There are also several findings indicating that the impairment of adult neurogenesis may be involved in the pathophysiology of some brain diseases, like depression, epilepsy, ischemia or neurodegenerative disorders. It appears that alterations in the rate of neurogenesis may have important functional and therapeutic implications.
Maćkowiak
Marzena
M
Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Biostructure, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Smetna 12, PL 31-343 Kraków, Poland. mackow@if-pan.krakow.pl
Chocyk
Agnieszka
A
Markowicz-Kula
Katarzyna
K
Wedzony
Krzysztof
K
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*