scholarly journals Mercury Toxicity and Neurogenesis in the Mammalian Brain

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 7520
Author(s):  
Louise C. Abbott ◽  
Fikru Nigussie
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Adult Neurogenesis ◽  
Neural Progenitor Cells ◽  
Mammalian Brain ◽  
Mercury Toxicity ◽  
Embryonic Neurogenesis ◽  
Programmed Death ◽  
Final Integration ◽  
Developing Neurons

The mammalian brain is formed from billions of cells that include a wide array of neuronal and glial subtypes. Neural progenitor cells give rise to the vast majority of these cells during embryonic, fetal, and early postnatal developmental periods. The process of embryonic neurogenesis includes proliferation, differentiation, migration, the programmed death of some newly formed cells, and the final integration of differentiated neurons into neural networks. Adult neurogenesis also occurs in the mammalian brain, but adult neurogenesis is beyond the scope of this review. Developing embryonic neurons are particularly susceptible to neurotoxicants and especially mercury toxicity. This review focused on observations concerning how mercury, and in particular, methylmercury, affects neurogenesis in the developing mammalian brain. We summarized information on models used to study developmental mercury toxicity, theories of pathogenesis, and treatments that could be used to reduce the toxic effects of mercury on developing neurons.

scholarly journals Living Neural Networks: Dynamic Network Analysis of Developing Neural Progenitor Cells

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arun S. Mahadevan ◽  
Nicolas E. Grandel ◽  
Jacob T. Robinson ◽  
Kevin R. Francis ◽  
Amina A. Qutub
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Graph Theory ◽  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Neural Progenitor Cells ◽  
Neural Progenitor ◽  
Mammalian Brain ◽  
Spatial Network ◽  
Network Efficiency ◽  
Spatial Features ◽  
Network Neuroscience

ABSTRACTThe architecture of the mammalian brain has been characterized through decades of innovation in the field of network neuroscience. However, the assembly of the brain from progenitor cells is an immensely complex process, and a quantitative understanding of how neural progenitor cells (NPCs) form neural networks has proven elusive. Here, we introduce a method that integrates graph-theory with long-term imaging of differentiating human NPCs to characterize the evolution of spatial and functional network features in NPCs during the formation of neural networks in vitro. We find that the rise and fall in spatial network efficiency is a characteristic feature of the transition from immature NPC networks to mature neural networks. Furthermore, networks at intermediate stages of differentiation that display high spatial network efficiency also show high levels of network-wide spontaneous electrical activity. These results support the view that network-wide signaling in immature progenitor cells gives way to a hierarchical form of communication in mature neural networks. We also leverage graph theory to study the spatial features of individual cell types in developing cultures, uncovering spatial features of polarized neuroepithelium. Finally, we employ our method to uncover aberrant network features in a neurodevelopmental disorder using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models. The “Living Neural Networks” method bridges the gap between developmental neurobiology and network neuroscience, and offers insight into the relationship between developing and mature neural networks.

scholarly journals SEPT7 Interacts with KIF20A and Regulates the Proliferative State of Neural Progenitor Cells During Cortical Development

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 3030-3043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Runxiang Qiu ◽  
Qiu Runxiang ◽  
Anqi Geng ◽  
Jiancheng Liu ◽  
C Wilson Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Division ◽  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Neuronal Differentiation ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Neural Progenitor Cells ◽  
Cortical Development ◽  
Neural Progenitor ◽  
Mammalian Brain ◽  
Additional Cell ◽  
A Cell

Abstract Balanced proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) are critical for brain development, but how the process is regulated and what components of the cell division machinery is involved are not well understood. Here we report that SEPT7, a cell division regulator originally identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, interacts with KIF20A in the intercellular bridge of dividing NPCs and plays an essential role in maintaining the proliferative state of NPCs during cortical development. Knockdown of SEPT7 in NPCs results in displacement of KIF20A from the midbody and early neuronal differentiation. NPC-specific inducible knockout of Sept7 causes early cell cycle exit, precocious neuronal differentiation, and ventriculomegaly in the cortex, but surprisingly does not lead to noticeable cytokinesis defect. Our data uncover an interaction of SEPT7 and KIF20A during NPC divisions and demonstrate a crucial role of SEPT7 in cell fate determination. In addition, this study presents a functional approach for identifying additional cell fate regulators of the mammalian brain.

scholarly journals Hippocampal Adult Neurogenesis Is Maintained by Neil3-Dependent Repair of Oxidative DNA Lesions in Neural Progenitor Cells

Cell Reports ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 503-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Elisabeth Regnell ◽  
Gunn Annette Hildrestrand ◽  
Yngve Sejersted ◽  
Tirill Medin ◽  
Olve Moldestad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Adult Neurogenesis ◽  
Neural Progenitor Cells ◽  
Neural Progenitor ◽  
Dna Lesions

Adult neural progenitor cells reactivate superbursting in mature neural networks

2012 ◽  
Vol 234 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Crystal L. Stephens ◽  
Hiroki Toda ◽  
Theo D. Palmer ◽  
Thomas B. DeMarse ◽  
Brandi K. Ormerod
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Neural Progenitor Cells ◽  
Neural Progenitor

scholarly journals Proliferation, neurogenesis and regeneration in the non-mammalian vertebrate brain

2007 ◽  
Vol 363 (1489) ◽  
pp. 101-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Kaslin ◽  
Julia Ganz ◽  
Michael Brand
Keyword(s):  
Olfactory Bulb ◽  
Adult Neurogenesis ◽  
Brain Plasticity ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Adult Brain ◽  
Mammalian Brain ◽  
Embryonic Neurogenesis ◽  
Vertebrate Brain ◽  
Multipotent Progenitor Cells

Post-embryonic neurogenesis is a fundamental feature of the vertebrate brain. However, the level of adult neurogenesis decreases significantly with phylogeny. In the first part of this review, a comparative analysis of adult neurogenesis and its putative roles in vertebrates are discussed. Adult neurogenesis in mammals is restricted to two telencephalic constitutively active zones. On the contrary, non-mammalian vertebrates display a considerable amount of adult neurogenesis in many brain regions. The phylogenetic differences in adult neurogenesis are poorly understood. However, a common feature of vertebrates (fish, amphibians and reptiles) that display a widespread adult neurogenesis is the substantial post-embryonic brain growth in contrast to birds and mammals. It is probable that the adult neurogenesis in fish, frogs and reptiles is related to the coordinated growth of sensory systems and corresponding sensory brain regions. Likewise, neurons are substantially added to the olfactory bulb in smell-oriented mammals in contrast to more visually oriented primates and songbirds, where much fewer neurons are added to the olfactory bulb. The second part of this review focuses on the differences in brain plasticity and regeneration in vertebrates. Interestingly, several recent studies show that neurogenesis is suppressed in the adult mammalian brain. In mammals, neurogenesis can be induced in the constitutively neurogenic brain regions as well as ectopically in response to injury, disease or experimental manipulations. Furthermore, multipotent progenitor cells can be isolated and differentiated in vitro from several otherwise silent regions of the mammalian brain. This indicates that the potential to recruit or generate neurons in non-neurogenic brain areas is not completely lost in mammals. The level of adult neurogenesis in vertebrates correlates with the capacity to regenerate injury, for example fish and amphibians exhibit the most widespread adult neurogenesis and also the greatest capacity to regenerate central nervous system injuries. Studying these phenomena in non-mammalian vertebrates may greatly increase our understanding of the mechanisms underlying regeneration and adult neurogenesis. Understanding mechanisms that regulate endogenous proliferation and neurogenic permissiveness in the adult brain is of great significance in therapeutical approaches for brain injury and disease.

scholarly journals The piRNA pathway sustains adult neurogenesis by repressing protein synthesis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Gasperini ◽  
R. Pelizzoli ◽  
A. Lo Van ◽  
D. Mangoni ◽  
R.M. Cossu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Adult Neurogenesis ◽  
Neural Progenitor Cells ◽  
Brain Plasticity ◽  
Mammalian Brain ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Transfer Rnas ◽  
Pirna Pathway

AbstractIn specific niches of the adult mammalian brain, neural progenitor cells (aNPCs) ensure lifelong neurogenesis. Proper regulation of this process entails important implications for brain plasticity and health. We report that Piwil2 (Mili) and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are abundantly expressed in aNPCs but depleted in their progeny in the adult mouse hippocampus. Loss of function of the piRNA pathway in aNPCs inhibited neurogenesis and increased reactive gliogenesis in vivo and in vitro. PiRNA pathway depletion in cultured aNPCs increased levels of 5S ribosomal RNA, transfer RNAs and mRNAs encoding regulators of translation, resulting in higher polyribosome density and protein synthesis upon differentiation. We propose that the piRNA pathway sustains adult neurogenesis by repressing translation in aNPCs.One sentence summaryThe piRNA pathway is enriched in neural precursors and essential for appropriate neurogenesis by modulating translation

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