Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Alzheimer’s Disease: An Overview of Human and Animal Studies with Implications for Therapeutic Perspectives Aimed at Memory Recovery

The mammalian hippocampal dentate gyrus is a niche for adult neurogenesis from neural stem cells. Newborn neurons integrate into existing neuronal networks, where they play a key role in hippocampal functions, including learning and memory. In the ageing brain, neurogenic capability progressively declines while in parallel increases the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the main neurodegenerative disorder associated with memory loss. Numerous studies have investigated whether impaired adult neurogenesis contributes to memory decline in AD. Here, we review the literature on adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) and AD by focusing on both human and mouse model studies. First, we describe key steps of AHN, report recent evidence of this phenomenon in humans, and describe the specific contribution of newborn neurons to memory, as evinced by animal studies. Next, we review articles investigating AHN in AD patients and critically examine the discrepancies among different studies over the last two decades. Also, we summarize researches investigating AHN in AD mouse models, and from these studies, we extrapolate the contribution of molecular factors linking AD-related changes to impaired neurogenesis. Lastly, we examine animal studies that link impaired neurogenesis to specific memory dysfunctions in AD and review treatments that have the potential to rescue memory capacities in AD by stimulating AHN.

A role for Lin28a in aging-associated decline of adult hippocampal neurogenesis

Hippocampal neurogenesis declines with aging. Wnt ligands and antagonists within the hippocampal neurogenic niche regulate the proliferation of neural progenitor cells and the development of new neurons, and the changes of their levels in the niche mediate aging-associated decline of neurogenesis. We found that RNA-binding protein Lin28a remained existent in neural progenitor cells and granule neurons in the adult hippocampus, and decreased with aging. Loss of Lin28a inhibited the responsiveness of neural progenitor cells to niche Wnt agonist and reduced neurogenesis, thus impairing pattern separation. Overexpression of Lin28a increased the proliferation of neural progenitor cells, promoted the functional integration of newborn neurons, restored neurogenesis in Wnt-deficient dentate gyrus, and rescued the impaired pattern separation in aging mice. Our data suggest that Lin28a regulates adult hippocampal neurogenesis as an intracellular mechanism by responding to niche Wnt signals, and its decrease is involved in aging-associated decline of hippocampal neurogenesis as well as related cognitive functions.

DL-3-n-butylphthalide promotes hippocampal neurogenesis and reduces mossy fiber sprouting in chronic temporal lobe epilepsy rats

Background A decrease in hippocampal neurogenesis is considered an important cause of cognitive impairment, while changes in mossy fiber sprouting are closely related to development of spontaneous recurrent seizures in chronic temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Racemic l-3-n-butylphthalide (DL-NBP) can alleviate cognitive impairment in ischemic stroke and Alzheimer’s disease by promoting neurogenesis. DL-NBP treatment can also improve cognitive function and reduce seizure incidence in chronic epileptic mice. However, the mechanisms of action of DL-NBP remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of DL-NBP on mossy fiber sprouting, hippocampal neurogenesis, spontaneous epileptic seizures, and cognitive functioning in the chronic phase of TLE. Methods Nissl staining was used to evaluate hippocampal injury, while immunofluorescent staining was used to analyze hippocampal neurogenesis. The duration of spontaneous seizures was measured by electroencephalography. The Morris water maze was used to evaluate cognitive function. Timm staining was used to assess mossy fiber sprouting. Results TLE animals showed reduced proliferation of newborn neurons, cognitive dysfunction, and spontaneous seizures. Treatment with DL-NBP after TLE increased the proliferation and survival of newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus, reversed the neural loss in the hippocampus, alleviated cognitive impairments, and decreased mossy fiber sprouting and long-term spontaneous seizure activity. Conclusions We provided pathophysiological and morphological evidence that DL-NBP might be a useful therapeutic for the treatment of TLE.

Continual reelin signaling by the prime neurogenic niche of the adult brain

During development reelin sets the pace of neocortical neurogenesis enabling in turn newborn neurons to migrate, but whether and, if so, how reelin signaling affects the adult neurogenic niches remains uncertain. We show that reelin signaling, resulting in Dab1 phosphorylation, occurs in the ependymal-subependymal zone (EZ/SEZ) of the lateral ventricles where, along with its associated rostral migratory stream (RMS), the highest density of functional ApoER2 accumulates. Mice deficient for reelin, ApoER2 or Dab1 exhibit enlarged ventricles and dysplastic RMS. Moreover, while the conditional ablation of Dab1 in neural progenitor cells (NPCs) enlarges the ventricles and impairs neuroblasts clearance from the SEZ, the transgenic misexpression of reelin in NPCs of reelin-deficient mice normalizes the ventricular lumen and the density of ependymal cilia, ameliorating in turn neuroblasts migration; consistently, intraventricular infusion of reelin reroutes neuroblasts. These results demonstrate that reelin signaling persists sustaining the germinal niche of the lateral ventricles and influencing neuroblasts migration in the adult brain.

Relating Neurochemical Changes Associated with THC Use to Learning and Memory in Adolescent Rats

<p>Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug. Adolescents may be especially vulnerable to the effects of cannabis, and alarmingly, adolescence is also a period of heavy cannabis use. However, few studies have investigated the cognitive effects of cannabis use in adolescents specifically. Furthermore, the neurochemical correlates of cognitive impairment associated with cannabis use at any age have received very little experimental attention. This research project sought to address these shortcomings in the literature using THC, the major psychoactive component of cannabis, and a rat model of adolescence. The rate of learning was slower in THC-treated animals, and this was attributable to deficits in the cognitive function of 'chunking', a process by which the information capacity of short-term memory is enlarged. Impairment of chunking by cannabinoids has not been previously reported. Behavioural impairment by THC was associated with impaired hippocampal plasticity, including changes in synaptic activity and architecture, as well as changes in neurogenesis. The attenuation of structural and functional plasticity in the hippocampus in response to training in a learning task was more pronounced than the subtle effects of THC-treatment on the survival and early development of newborn neurons. Importantly, no effects of THC were seen in animals not trained in the maze. Thus, plasticity is more sensitive to the effects of THC during times of learning, and this greater sensitivity likely accounts for the behavioural impairment associated with cannabis use. The data presented in this thesis add significantly to the existing literature by identifying novel behavioural and neurochemical processes by which cannabis use may impair learning and memory. Whether these impairments represent a greater sensitivity of adolescents to THC remains to be determined.</p>

Relating Neurochemical Changes Associated with THC Use to Learning and Memory in Adolescent Rats

<p>Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug. Adolescents may be especially vulnerable to the effects of cannabis, and alarmingly, adolescence is also a period of heavy cannabis use. However, few studies have investigated the cognitive effects of cannabis use in adolescents specifically. Furthermore, the neurochemical correlates of cognitive impairment associated with cannabis use at any age have received very little experimental attention. This research project sought to address these shortcomings in the literature using THC, the major psychoactive component of cannabis, and a rat model of adolescence. The rate of learning was slower in THC-treated animals, and this was attributable to deficits in the cognitive function of 'chunking', a process by which the information capacity of short-term memory is enlarged. Impairment of chunking by cannabinoids has not been previously reported. Behavioural impairment by THC was associated with impaired hippocampal plasticity, including changes in synaptic activity and architecture, as well as changes in neurogenesis. The attenuation of structural and functional plasticity in the hippocampus in response to training in a learning task was more pronounced than the subtle effects of THC-treatment on the survival and early development of newborn neurons. Importantly, no effects of THC were seen in animals not trained in the maze. Thus, plasticity is more sensitive to the effects of THC during times of learning, and this greater sensitivity likely accounts for the behavioural impairment associated with cannabis use. The data presented in this thesis add significantly to the existing literature by identifying novel behavioural and neurochemical processes by which cannabis use may impair learning and memory. Whether these impairments represent a greater sensitivity of adolescents to THC remains to be determined.</p>

Short Daily Exposure to Environmental Enrichment, Fluoxetine, or Their Combination Reverses Deterioration of the Coat and Anhedonia Behaviors with Differential Effects on Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Chronically Stressed Mice

Depression is a neuropsychiatric disorder with a high impact on the worldwide population. To overcome depression, antidepressant drugs are the first line of treatment. However, pre-clinical studies have pointed out that antidepressants are not entirely efficacious and that the quality of the living environment after stress cessation may play a relevant role in increasing their efficacy. As it is unknown whether a short daily exposure to environmental enrichment during chronic stress and antidepressant treatment will be more effective than just the pharmacological treatment, this study analyzed the effects of fluoxetine, environmental enrichment, and their combination on depressive-associated behavior. Additionally, we investigated hippocampal neurogenesis in mice exposed to chronic mild stress. Our results indicate that fluoxetine reversed anhedonia. Besides, fluoxetine reversed the decrement of some events of the hippocampal neurogenic process caused by chronic mild stress. Conversely, short daily exposure to environmental enrichment changed the deterioration of the coat and anhedonia. Although, this environmental intervention did not produce significant changes in the neurogenic process affected by chronic mild stress, fluoxetine plus environmental enrichment showed similar effects to those caused by environmental enrichment to reverse depressive-like behaviors. Like fluoxetine, the combination reversed the declining number of Ki67, doublecortin, calretinin cells and mature newborn neurons. Finally, this study suggests that short daily exposure to environmental enrichment improves the effects of fluoxetine to reverse the deterioration of the coat and anhedonia in chronically stressed mice. In addition, the combination of fluoxetine with environmental enrichment produces more significant effects than those caused by fluoxetine alone on some events of the neurogenic process. Thus, environmental enrichment improves the benefits of pharmacological treatment by mechanisms that need to be clarified.

GDF11 expressed in the adult brain negatively regulates hippocampal neurogenesis

Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) is a transforming factor-β superfamily member that functions as a negative regulator of neurogenesis during embryonic development. However, when recombinant GDF11 (rGDF11) is administered systemically in aged mice, it promotes neurogenesis, the opposite of its role during development. The goal of the present study was to reconcile this apparent discrepancy by performing the first detailed investigation into the expression of endogenous GDF11 in the adult brain and its effects on neurogenesis. Using quantitative histological analysis, we observed that Gdf11 is most highly expressed in adult neurogenic niches and non-neurogenic regions within the hippocampus, choroid plexus, thalamus, habenula, and cerebellum. To investigate the role of endogenous GDF11 during adult hippocampal neurogenesis, we generated a tamoxifen inducible mouse that allowed us to reduce GDF11 levels. Depletion of Gdf11 during adulthood increased proliferation of neural progenitors and decreased the number of newborn neurons in the hippocampus, suggesting that endogenous GDF11 remains a negative regulator of hippocampal neurogenesis in adult mice. These findings further support the idea that circulating systemic GDF11 and endogenously expressed GDF11 in the adult brain have different target cells or mechanisms of action. Our data describe a role for GDF11-dependent signaling in adult neurogenesis that has implications for how GDF11 may be used to treat CNS disease.

Identification of neural progenitor cells and their progeny reveals long distance migration in the developing octopus brain

Cephalopods have evolved nervous systems that parallel the complexity of mammalian brains in terms of neuronal numbers and richness in behavioral output. How the cephalopod brain develops has only been described at the morphological level, and it remains unclear where the progenitor cells are located and what molecular factors drive neurogenesis. Using histological techniques, we located dividing cells, neural progenitors and postmitotic neurons in Octopus vulgaris embryos. Our results indicate that an important pool of progenitors, expressing the conserved bHLH transcription factors achaete-scute or neurogenin, is located outside the central brain cords in the lateral lips adjacent to the eyes, suggesting that newly formed neurons migrate into the cords. Lineage-tracing experiments then showed that progenitors, depending on their location in the lateral lips, generate neurons for the different lobes, similar to the squid Doryteuthis pealeii. The finding that octopus newborn neurons migrate over long distances is reminiscent of vertebrate neurogenesis and suggests it might be a fundamental strategy for large brain development.