Project description:We sought to find molecular signatures of the SGZ cell types, and to characterize the molecular pathways and transcription factor cascades that define the neurogenic niche. We used laser capture microdissection and DNA microarrays to profile gene expression in the inner (SGZ) and outer portions of the dentate gyrus (DG). Since the vast majority of the cells in the DG are mature granule cells, we compared the expression of the inner and outer portions to reveal molecular markers for the less numerous populations of the SGZ. This data set is part of a larger study assessing conserved molecular signatures of neurogenesis in the hippocampal subgranular zone of rodents and primates. Using a combination of selective SGZ transcriptional profiling with laser microdissection and DNA microarrays as well as in situ hybridization (ISH), we developed an extensive molecular characterization of the mouse SGZ, identifying 367 genes enriched in the SGZ compared to mature granule neurons. These genes displayed a wide range of cellular expression patterns reflecting the cellular milieu of the SGZ, including progenitor and dividing cells, immature granule cells, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and GABAergic interneurons. We next used a comparable microarray data set in rhesus monkey that profiled the SGZ across postnatal development to identify genes related to developmentally regulated granule cell neurogenesis. The rhesus monkey SGZ showed highly significant similarity to mouse, whereas network analysis of these data identified SGZ-enriched gene sets with different temporal profiles reflecting differential time-courses for maturation of glia and granule neurons. One neurogenesis-related gene network showed a steady decrease in expression across postnatal rhesus development from birth to adulthood. This temporal pattern is highly correlated with the number of proliferating cells in the dentate gyrus, and the neurogenic transcription factors Sox4 and Sox11 are central hub genes for this gene network. A number of the genes in this network showed a similar postnatal downregulation in mouse, suggesting a general conservation of molecular mechanisms underlying developmental and adult neurogenesis in rodents and primates. Primate data available at: http://www.blueprintnhpatlas.org/ Brains from 10- to 11-week-old C57BL/6 male mice housed in three conditions (no running, 4 days of running, 30 days of running) were sectioned and the dentate gyrus was isolated. For each brain, the inner granule cell layer (containing the subgranular zone) and outer GCL were separated using laser capture microdissection, and RNA from each region was collected and processed as described in the protocols.

Project description:We sought to find molecular signatures of the SGZ cell types, and to characterize the molecular pathways and transcription factor cascades that define the neurogenic niche. We used laser capture microdissection and DNA microarrays to profile gene expression in the inner (SGZ) and outer portions of the dentate gyrus (DG). Since the vast majority of the cells in the DG are mature granule cells, we compared the expression of the inner and outer portions to reveal molecular markers for the less numerous populations of the SGZ. This data set is part of a larger study assessing conserved molecular signatures of neurogenesis in the hippocampal subgranular zone of rodents and primates. Using a combination of selective SGZ transcriptional profiling with laser microdissection and DNA microarrays as well as in situ hybridization (ISH), we developed an extensive molecular characterization of the mouse SGZ, identifying 367 genes enriched in the SGZ compared to mature granule neurons. These genes displayed a wide range of cellular expression patterns reflecting the cellular milieu of the SGZ, including progenitor and dividing cells, immature granule cells, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and GABAergic interneurons. We next used a comparable microarray data set in rhesus monkey that profiled the SGZ across postnatal development to identify genes related to developmentally regulated granule cell neurogenesis. The rhesus monkey SGZ showed highly significant similarity to mouse, whereas network analysis of these data identified SGZ-enriched gene sets with different temporal profiles reflecting differential time-courses for maturation of glia and granule neurons. One neurogenesis-related gene network showed a steady decrease in expression across postnatal rhesus development from birth to adulthood. This temporal pattern is highly correlated with the number of proliferating cells in the dentate gyrus, and the neurogenic transcription factors Sox4 and Sox11 are central hub genes for this gene network. A number of the genes in this network showed a similar postnatal downregulation in mouse, suggesting a general conservation of molecular mechanisms underlying developmental and adult neurogenesis in rodents and primates. Primate data available at: http://www.blueprintnhpatlas.org/

Project description:Rodent studies show that neurogenesis is necessary for mediating the salutary effects of antidepressants. Nonhuman primate (NHP) studies may bridge important rodent findings to the clinical realm since NHP-depression shares significant homology with human depression and kinetics of primate neurogenesis differ from those in rodents. After demonstrating that antidepressants can stimulate neurogenesis in NHPs, our present study examines whether neurogenesis is required for antidepressant efficacy in NHPs. MATERIALS/METHODOLOGY: Adult female bonnets were randomized to three social pens (N?=?6 each). Pen-1 subjects were exposed to control-conditions for 15 weeks with half receiving the antidepressant fluoxetine and the rest receiving saline-placebo. Pen-2 subjects were exposed to 15 weeks of separation-stress with half receiving fluoxetine and half receiving placebo. Pen-3 subjects 2 weeks of irradiation (N?=?4) or sham-irradiation (N?=?2) and then exposed to 15 weeks of stress and fluoxetine. Dependent measures were weekly behavioral observations and postmortem neurogenesis levels.Exposing NHPs to repeated separation stress resulted in depression-like behaviors (anhedonia and subordinance) accompanied by reduced hippocampal neurogenesis. Treatment with fluoxetine stimulated neurogenesis and prevented the emergence of depression-like behaviors. Ablation of neurogenesis with irradiation abolished the therapeutic effects of fluoxetine. Non-stressed controls had normative behaviors although the fluoxetine-treated controls had higher neurogenesis rates. Across all groups, depression-like behaviors were associated with decreased rates of neurogenesis but this inverse correlation was only significant for new neurons in the anterior dentate gyrus that were at the threshold of completing maturation.We provide evidence that induction of neurogenesis is integral to the therapeutic effects of fluoxetine in NHPs. Given the similarity between monkeys and humans, hippocampal neurogenesis likely plays a similar role in the treatment of clinical depression. Future studies will examine several outstanding questions such as whether neuro-suppression is sufficient for producing depression and whether therapeutic neuroplastic effects of fluoxetine are specific to antidepressants.

Project description:Stress and glucocorticoid hormones regulate hippocampal neurogenesis, but the molecular mechanisms underlying their effects are unknown. We, therefore, investigated the molecular signaling pathways mediating the effects of cortisol on proliferation, neuronal differentiation, and astrogliogenesis, in an immortalized human hippocampal progenitor cell line. In addition, we examined the molecular signaling pathways activated in the hippocampus of prenatally stressed rats, characterized by persistently elevated glucocorticoid levels in adulthood. In human hippocampal progenitor cells, we found that low concentrations of cortisol (100 nM) increased proliferation (+16%), decreased neurogenesis into microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2)-positive neurons (-24%) and doublecortin (Dcx)-positive neuroblasts (-21%), and increased differentiation into S100?-positive astrocytes (+23%). These effects were dependent on the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) as they were abolished by the MR antagonist, spironolactone, and mimicked by the MR-agonist, aldosterone. In contrast, high concentrations of cortisol (100 ?M) decreased proliferation (-17%) and neuronal differentiation into MAP2-positive neurons (-22%) and into Dcx-positive neuroblasts (-27%), without regulating astrogliogenesis. These effects were dependent on the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), blocked by the GR antagonist RU486, and mimicked by the GR-agonist, dexamethasone. Gene expression microarray and pathway analysis showed that the low concentration of cortisol enhances Notch/Hes-signaling, the high concentration inhibits TGF?-SMAD2/3-signaling, and both concentrations inhibit Hedgehog signaling. Mechanistically, we show that reduced Hedgehog signaling indeed critically contributes to the cortisol-induced reduction in neuronal differentiation. Accordingly, TGF?-SMAD2/3 and Hedgehog signaling were also inhibited in the hippocampus of adult prenatally stressed rats with high glucocorticoid levels. In conclusion, our data demonstrate novel molecular signaling pathways that are regulated by glucocorticoids in vitro, in human hippocampal progenitor cells, and by stress in vivo, in the rat hippocampus.

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Conserved molecular signatures of neurogenesis in the hippocampal subgranular zone of rodents and primates.

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Conserved molecular signatures of neurogenesis in the hippocampal subgranular zone of rodents and primates.

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