Activity-dependent neuronal maturation in the adult hippocampus

ÁLVAREZ DIEGO D, DAVIES SALA M GEORGINA, GIACOMINID DAMIANA AND SCHINDER ALEJANDRO F.

Huerta Grande, Córdoba

Congreso; XViI Congreso Anual de la SAN; 2012

Sociedad Argentina de Neurociencias

The adult dentate gyrus contains neural stem cells that generate neurons that develop and mature during several weeks. We have recently demonstrated that the rate of neuronal maturation is regulated by electrical activity in the local circuit; more active networks promote faster maturation rates. To investigate whether developing neurons display a critical period for their sensitivity to electrical activity we now tested how increased neuronal activity by running during restricted time windows modulate neuronal maturation. Preliminary data shows that developing neurons display a high sensitivity to network activity during the initial stages of maturation (before 11 days). To test the role of intrinsic activity on neuronal maturation we performed retroviral expression of RASSLs (receptor activated solely by synthetic ligands) that can activate (HM3D) or silence (HM4D) newborn neurons. We have showed that new neurons expressing HM3D increased ARC expression in response to oral or intraperitoneal administration of the ligand CNO, indicating that adult-born neurons can be activated in vivo with this tool. We have now started a set of experiments to perform chronic manipulations of intrinsic neuronal activity to assess the effects on maturation. Data analysis is underway.