title: Seasonal regulation of structural plasticity and neurogenesis in the adult mammalian brain: focus on the sheep hypothalamus.
abstract: To cope with variations in the environment, most mammalian species exhibit seasonal cycles in physiology and behaviour. Seasonal plasticity during the lifetime contributes to seasonal physiology. Over the years, our ideas regarding adult brain plasticity and, more specifically, hypothalamic plasticity have greatly evolved. Along with the two main neurogenic regions, namely the hippocampal subgranular and lateral ventricle subventricular zones, the hypothalamus, which is the central homeostatic regulator of numerous physiological functions that comprise sexual behaviours, feeding and metabolism, also hosts neurogenic niches. Both endogenous and exogenous factors, including the photoperiod, modulate the hypothalamic neurogenic capacities. The present review describes the effects of season on adult morphological plasticity and neurogenesis in seasonal species, for which the photoperiod is a master environmental cue for the successful programming of seasonal functions. In addition, the potential functional significance of adult neurogenesis in the mediation of the seasonal control of reproduction and feeding is discussed.
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; CNRS, UMR7247, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; Université de Tours, F-37041 Tours, France; Haras Nationaux, F-37380 Nouzilly, France. Electronic address: Martine.Migaud@tours.inra.fr.
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Migaud
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; CNRS, UMR7247, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; Université de Tours, F-37041 Tours, France; Haras Nationaux, F-37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Lucile
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Butrille
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; CNRS, UMR7247, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; Université de Tours, F-37041 Tours, France; Haras Nationaux, F-37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Batailler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D008322:Mammals / Q000502:physiology*; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Adult neurogenesis; Hippocampus; Hypothalamus; Metabolism; Neuroblast; Neurogenic niche; Reproduction; Seasonality; Sheep; Structural plasticity