FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION OF NEW NEURONS IN THE ADULT HIPPOCAMPAL CIRCUITRY

SCHINDER AF

Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, San Pablo

Conferencia; Seminario departamental, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research; 2009

The adult brain contains neural stem cells that generate neurons throughout life. In mammals, adult neurogenesis is restricted to the olfactory bulb and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, a cortical structure involved in learning and memory. In the last few years we have devoted our efforts to elucidate how functional integration of new neurons is controlled and what is the impact of new neurons in the dentate gyrus. By combining retroviral labeling techniques, confocal microscopy and electrophysiology we have revealed a precise developmental sequence that recapitulates what occurs during perinatal development. A new neuron develops in six to eight weeks. When mature, new neurons integrate afferent signals in a similar fashion as other neurons in the network and release glutamate onto hippocampal target cells. Therefore, adult neurogenesis is an ongoing developmental process that results in fully functional neurons that become engaged in information processing.