Opposing effects of ?2- and ?-adrenergic receptor stimulation on quiescent neural precursor cell activity and adult hippocampal neurogenesis.
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ABSTRACT: Norepinephrine regulates latent neural stem cell activity and adult hippocampal neurogenesis, and has an important role in modulating hippocampal functions such as learning, memory and mood. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is a multi-stage process, spanning from the activation and proliferation of hippocampal stem cells, to their differentiation into neurons. However, the stage-specific effects of noradrenergic receptors in regulating adult hippocampal neurogenesis remain poorly understood. In this study, we used transgenic Nestin-GFP mice and neurosphere assays to show that modulation of ?2- and ?-adrenergic receptor activity directly affects Nestin-GFP/GFAP-positive precursor cell population albeit in an opposing fashion. While selective stimulation of ?2-adrenergic receptors decreases precursor cell activation, proliferation and immature neuron number, stimulation of ?-adrenergic receptors activates the quiescent precursor pool and enhances their proliferation in the adult hippocampus. Furthermore, our data indicate no major role for ?1-adrenergic receptors, as we did not observe any change in either the activation and proliferation of hippocampal precursors following selective stimulation or blockade of ?1-adrenergic receptors. Taken together, our data suggest that under physiological as well as under conditions that lead to enhanced norepinephrine release, the balance between ?2- and ?-adrenergic receptor activity regulates precursor cell activity and hippocampal neurogenesis.
SUBMITTER: Jhaveri DJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4055446 | biostudies-literature | 2014
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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