Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gabriel Berdugo-Vega, Shonali Dhingra, Federico Calegari
Summary: This article reviews a wealth of research in cellular, anatomical, behavioral, and computational studies on the mammalian hippocampus, aiming to understand the fundamental mechanisms underlying cognition. Despite accumulating knowledge on how the hippocampus processes and stores information for learning and memory, our understanding of hippocampal cognitive function remains incomplete. The article discusses the structural separability of the two blades of the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus and proposes a model that suggests differences in connectivity and adult neurogenesis in the two blades may contribute to subtly different cognitive functions.
Review
Neurosciences
Jesse D. Cushman, Michael R. Drew, Franklin B. Krasne
Summary: The primary function of juvenile and adult hippocampal neurogenesis appears to be allowing behavioral experience to shape connectivity in the dentate gyrus and optimize hippocampal circuits for future learning. This environmental sculpting reduces overlap among memory representations, provides more information, and allows for more memories to be stored accurately. The decline of neurogenesis prior to adulthood may be explained by this prospective function of sculpting hippocampal circuits.
PROGRESS IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Timothy J. Schoenfeld, Chance Swanson
Summary: Physical exercise has wide-ranging benefits to cognitive functioning and mental state, with effects resembling enhancements to hippocampal functioning. Beta-endorphins released during exercise are a potential candidate for moderating increases in neurogenesis and related behavioral benefits. Further exploration of beta-endorphin as a key mediator of hippocampal neurogenesis could provide insights into how exercise promotes adult neurogenesis and overall brain health.
Article
Cell Biology
Ana R. Machado-Santos, Eduardo Loureiro-Campos, Patricia Patricio, Bruna Araujo, Nuno Dinis Alves, Antonio Mateus-Pinheiro, Joana Sofia Correia, Monica Morais, Joao M. Bessa, Nuno Sousa, Ana J. Rodrigues, Joao Filipe Oliveira, Luisa Pinto
Summary: This study investigates the importance of de novo generated astrocytes in the pathophysiology and treatment of depression, revealing the potential of newborn astrocytes as therapeutic targets for future depression treatments.
Article
Neurosciences
Nanami Kasakura, Yuka Murata, Asuka Shindo, Shiho Kitaoka, Tomoyuki Furuyashiki, Kanzo Suzuki, Eri Segi-Nishida
Summary: The dentate gyrus of the hippocampus plays a regulatory role in stress-related emotional behaviors and neurogenesis. NT-3 is expressed in the adult dentate gyrus and is enhanced under chronic stress conditions in rodents. However, the functional modulation of the dentate gyrus by NT-3 signaling is still unclear.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Sebastian B. Arredondo, Daniela Valenzuela-Bezanilla, Sebastian H. Santibanez, Lorena Varela-Nallar
Summary: The subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus is a neurogenic niche that contains neural stem cells capable of generating granule neurons. Wnt ligands play diverse roles in regulating adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Understanding the cellular source and mechanisms of Wnt signaling will be crucial for future therapeutic interventions.
Review
Cell Biology
Luka Culig, Xixia Chu, Vilhelm A. Bohr
Summary: Adult neurogenesis is a potential target for extending cognitive healthspan, as aging is a major risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. This review describes the role of adult neurogenesis in neurodegenerative diseases and discusses the molecular mechanisms involving key proteins. Interventions that increase neurogenesis and regulate aging research targets are summarized, and the outlook for restoring neurogenesis levels in elderly individuals and those with neurodegeneration is shared.
AGEING RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Virendra Tiwari, Akanksha Mishra, Sonu Singh, Shubha Shukla
Summary: Neural stem cells (NSCs) are the functional and developmental unit of neurogenesis, and they have the ability to self-renew and generate new neurons in different neurogenic niches. Neurogenesis in adult brain is associated with synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory, particularly in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus and olfactory bulb. Impaired neurogenesis has been implicated as a culprit in age-associated neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). This review provides evidence for the association between impaired neurogenesis and AD, and discusses the molecular and cellular regulation of neurogenesis in the young and aging brain. The review also summarizes therapeutic strategies for targeting the manipulation of the neural stem cell pool and factors affecting this pool in AD.
ACS CHEMICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lucas Alexandre Santos Marzano, Fabyolla Lucia Macedo de Castro, Caroline Amaral Machado, Joao Luis Vieira Monteiro de Barros, Thiago Macedo e Cordeiro, Ana Cristina Simoes e Silva, Antonio Lucio Teixeira, Aline Silva de Miranda
Summary: Traumatic brain injury is a serious cause of disability and death, and neurogenesis may provide potential benefits for its treatment.
CURRENT MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Shawn F. Sorrells, Mercedes F. Paredes, Zhuangzhi Zhang, Gugene Kang, Oier Pastor-Alonso, Sean Biagiotti, Chloe E. Page, Kadellyn Sandoval, Anthony Knox, Andrew Connolly, Eric J. Huang, Jose Manuel Garcia-Verdugo, Michael C. Oldham, Zhengang Yang, Arturo Alvarez-Buylla
Summary: Adult hippocampal neurogenesis was initially discovered in rodents, with subsequent studies identifying adult neural stem cells and their links to plasticity, behavior, and disease. The debate continues as to whether new neurons are produced in the human dentate gyrus during healthy aging. Recent research has shown conflicting results regarding the presence of dividing neuronal precursors in the adult human brain.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Ryan N. Sheehy, Luis J. Quintanilla, Juan Song
Summary: The adult dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampal formation generates new adult-born neurons from resident adult neural stem and progenitor cells (aNSPCs) through epigenetic regulation. The niche also utilizes epigenetic mechanisms in mature neurons and glial cells to direct the behavior of the aNSPCs.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Kylie A. Huckleberry, Rebecca M. Shansky
Summary: Neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus contributes to the formation of a heterogeneous DG with specialized adult-born neurons. More research is needed to consider the unique functions of adult-born neurons and to address critical gaps in current studies.
Article
Biology
Nannan Guo, Kelsey D. McDermott, Yu-Tzu Shih, Haley Zanga, Debolina Ghosh, Charlotte Herber, William R. Meara, James Coleman, Alexia Zagouras, Lai Ping Wong, Ruslan Sadreyev, J. Tiago Goncalves, Amar Sahay
Summary: This study reveals that the transcription factor Klf9 functions as a brake on symmetric self-renewal of radial-glial neural stem cells (RGLs) in mice. The loss of Klf9 promotes the activation state of RGLs and leads to increased symmetric self-renewal. The study also provides molecular insights into the genetic programs underlying RGL symmetric self-renewal, including Notch and mitogen signaling, cell cycle, fatty acid oxidation, and lipogenesis.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Farah Chamaa, Batoul Darwish, Ziad Nahas, Elie D. Al-Chaer, Nayef E. Saade, Wassim Abou-Kheir
Summary: This study demonstrates that sustained activation of the anteromedial thalamic nucleus boosts neurogenesis and improves spatial reference memory. Both single and multiple sessions of deep brain stimulation prompt an increase in novel arm exploration, with multiple sessions having a greater effect starting from week 1.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bo Lei, Bilin Kang, Wantong Lin, Haichao Chen, Yuejun Hao, Jian Ma, Songhai Shi, Yi Zhong
Summary: This study reveals the role of adult newborn granule cells (anbGCs) in the emotional state-dependent adaptability of memory retrieval. Acute social reward enhances memory retrieval by increasing engram cell reactivation, while acute social stress weakens retrieval and reduces reactivation. This bidirectional regulation is mediated by distinct populations of anbGCs, which modulate dDG activity to regulate and predict memory retrieval performance.
Article
Cell Biology
Tiago Silveira-Rosa, Antonio Mateus-Pinheiro, Joana Sofia Correia, Joana Margarida Silva, Joana Martins-Macedo, Bruna Araujo, Ana Rita Machado-Santos, Nuno Dinis Alves, Mariana Silva, Eduardo Loureiro-Campos, Ioannis Sotiropoulos, Joao Miguel Bessa, Ana Joao Rodrigues, Nuno Sousa, Patricia Patricio, Luisa Pinto
Summary: Our study demonstrates that regulation of the HPA axis response by hABN is sex-differentiated. Male GFAP-Tk rats show heightened acute stress response, while female GFAP-Tk rats exhibit increased corticosterone secretion at nadir and a heightened yet delayed response to an acute stress stimulus.
CELL PROLIFERATION
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Rita Gaspar, Carina Soares-Cunha, Ana Veronica Domingues, Barbara Coimbra, Filipa I. Baptista, Luisa Pinto, Antonio F. Ambrosio, Ana Joao Rodrigues, Catarina A. Gomes
Summary: Stress exposure induces molecular and functional alterations associated with anxiety and depression, with microglia playing a significant role in determining neuronal and behavioral responses. However, the impact of stress duration on microglia and neuronal morphology, especially considering sex differences, is not well understood. This study found that long-term stress exposure led to more behavioral alterations in males, while females primarily displayed anxiety-like behavior. Furthermore, microglia cells in different brain regions exhibited different morphological adaptations, with males showing hypertrophy and females showing atrophy in the nucleus accumbens. Neuronal morphological alterations were also observed, particularly in the dorsal hippocampus and nucleus accumbens, and these changes were more prominent in males.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Claudia Antunes, Jorge D. Da Silva, Sonia Guerra-Gomes, Nuno D. Alves, Eduardo Loureiro-Campos, Luisa Pinto, C. Joana Marques
Summary: This study found that conditional and inducible deletion of Tet3 in female mice increases anxiety-like behavior, impairs spatial orientation and short-term memory. At the molecular level, the expression of certain genes was altered. The study highlights the importance of considering sex in behavioral studies and expands our understanding of the role of epigenetic regulation in brain function and behavioral outcomes.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Ana Veronica Domingues, Barbara Coimbra, Raquel Correia, Catarina Deseyve, Natacha Vieitas-Gaspar, Stan B. Floresco, Nuno Sousa, Carina Soares-Cunha, Ana Joao Rodrigues
Summary: In utero exposure to synthetic glucocorticoids leads to motivation and decision-making deficits associated with dysfunctional ACC-NAc circuit.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Behavioral Sciences
Luisa Pinto, Francesca Calabrese, Patricia Patricio
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Andreia Vaz, Ines Ribeiro, Luisa Pinto
Article
Cell Biology
Joana Martins-Macedo, Antonio Mateus-Pinheiro, Catia Alves, Fernando Veloso, Eduardo D. Gomes, Ines Ribeiro, Joana S. Correia, Tiago Silveira-Rosa, Nuno D. Alves, Ana J. Rodrigues, Joao M. Bessa, Nuno Sousa, Joao F. Oliveira, Patricia Patricio, Luisa Pinto
Summary: This study developed an automated system for exposing rodents to a standard unpredictable chronic mild stress (uCMS) protocol. Comparing manual (uCMS) and automated (auCMS) stress-exposure protocols, the data showed similar impacts on behavioral and physiological measurements. This automated method represents a step forward in preclinical research with advantages in time and standardization.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Sofia Jovina Domingues, Luisa Pinto
Summary: This article reports an exceptional case, with only 9 cases described in the last 6 decades. The case is about a woman who successfully conceived after previous hemihysterectomy. The study found that compared to pregnancies in women with didelphys uterus, those after hemihysterectomy had a higher live birth rate and a lower preterm delivery rate.
CASE REPORTS IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
(2022)
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Antonio Mateus-Pinheiro, Tiago Costa, Helder Esperto, Sonia Moreira
ACTA MEDICA PORTUGUESA
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Raquel Correia, Barbara Coimbra, Ana Veronica Domingues, Marcelina Wezik, Natacha Vieitas-Gaspar, Rita Gaspar, Nuno Sousa, Luisa Pinto, Ana Joao Rodrigues, Carina Soares-Cunha
Summary: The study examined the contribution of specific neuronal projections from the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) to anxiety-like behavior. Activation of dopamine receptor D2-expressing medium spiny neurons (D2-MSNs) projecting to the ventral pallidum (VP) increased anxiety-like behavior, while activation of D1-MSNs projecting to the VP or ventral tegmental area (VTA) did not. This effect was mediated by modulation of GABAergic activity in the VP.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY & NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Sofia Pereira das Neves, Joao Carlos Sousa, Ricardo Magalhaes, Fuying Gao, Giovanni Coppola, Sebatien Meriaux, Fawzi Boumezbeur, Nuno Sousa, Joao Jose Cerqueira, Fernanda Marques
Summary: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. Recent research has shown that reactive astrocytes in MS lesions undergo metabolic alterations and exhibit increased reactivity, potentially contributing to the progression of the disease.
Article
Cell Biology
Barbara Mendes-Pinheiro, Jonas Campos, Ana Marote, Carina Soares-Cunha, Sarah L. Nickels, Anna S. Monzel, Jorge R. Cibrao, Eduardo Loureiro-Campos, Sofia C. Serra, Sandra Barata-Antunes, Sara Duarte-Silva, Luisa Pinto, Jens C. Schwamborn, Antonio J. Salgado
Summary: This study evaluated the therapeutic potential of the secretome collected from bone-marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The results showed that the secretome of BM-MSCs was able to protect dopaminergic neurons from loss and had therapeutic effects in motor function recovery and dopaminergic loss protection.
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Ana Marote, Diogo Santos, Barbara Mendes-Pinheiro, Claudia Serre-Miranda, Sandra Anjo, Joana Vieira, Filipa Ferreira-Antunes, Joana Sofia Correia, Caroline Borges-Pereira, Andreia G. Pinho, Jonas Campos, Bruno Manadas, Manuel R. Teixeira, Margarida Correia-Neves, Luisa Pinto, Pedro M. Costa, Laurent Roybon, Antonio J. Salgado
Summary: This study compared the secretomes of long-term cultured BM-MSCs and iMSCs, and conducted a comprehensive characterization of both sources. The results showed that although there were significant differences in proliferation between the two sources, the secretome composition of both sources was similar in pre-senescent and senescent states. These findings suggest that shifting from BM-MSCs to a more advantageous source like iMSCs may yield similar therapeutic effects as the gold-standard MSC source.
STEM CELL REVIEWS AND REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Victor De la Pena-Arteaga, Pedro Morgado, Beatriz Couto, Sonia Ferreira, Ines Castro, Nuno Sousa, Carles Soriano-Mas, Maria Pico-Perez
Summary: This study aims to investigate the brain networks and their dysfunctions related to emotion regulation alterations during cognitive reappraisal in patients with OCD. The results demonstrate that patients with OCD show decreased activation in specific networks involving the frontal cortex during cognitive reappraisal.
EUROPEAN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)