Re-cycling paradigms: cell cycle regulation in adult hippocampal neurogenesis and implications for depression

Since adult neurogenesis became a widely accepted phenomenon, much effort has been put in trying to understand the mechanisms involved in its regulation. In addition, the pathophysiology of several neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression, has been associated with imbalances in adult hippocampal neurogenesis. These imbalances may ultimately reflect alterations at the cell cycle level, as a common mechanism through which intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli interact with the neurogenic niche properties. Thus, the comprehension of these regulatory mechanisms has become of major importance to disclose novel therapeutic targets. In this review, we first present a comprehensive view on the cell cycle components and mechanisms that were identified in the context of the homeostatic adult hippocampal neurogenic niche. Then, we focus on recent work regarding the cell cycle changes and signaling pathways that are responsible for the neurogenesis imbalances observed in neuropathological conditions, with a particular emphasis on depression

Effects of salinity on the response of the wetland halophyte Kosteletzkya virginica (L.) Presl. to copper toxicity

Kosteletzkya virginica (L.) Presl. is aperennial wetland halophyte which could be exposed to heavy metals in polluted salt marsh environments. In order to investigate the interaction between salinity(50 mM NaCl) and heavy metal, young plants were exposed in hydroponic culture to 10 µM Cu in the presence or absence of 50 mM NaCl. Copper strongly inhibited the leaf emergence and lateral branch development as well as leaf expansion, and induced a significant decrease in plant dry weight (DW), water content (WC), osmotic potential and leaf water potential. Copper treated plants accumulated significantly higher level of Cu in the roots than in the shoots although Cu intake rates decreased with the duration of stress exposure. Additions of NaCl in the absence of Cu excess had no detrimental impact on plant growth. In the presence of Cu excess, NaCl decreased Cu accumulation in roots and stems but had no positive impact on plant growth. Copper induced a large decrease in K concentration in roots and stems as well as a decrease in Ca concentration in the leaves. The impact of Cu and NaCl appeared to be additive on leaf and leaf quaternary ammoniumcompounds concentrations. It is concluded that K. virginica exhibits a high bioconcentration factor for Cu which could be, at least partly, responsible for its sensitivity to this toxic element. The impact of stress on K and Ca homeostasis is discussed in relation to ion distribution and presence of mucilage in the plant

Activity-dependent signaling mechanisms regulating adult hippocampal neural stem cells and their progeny

Adult neural stem cells (NSCs) reside in a restricted microenvironment, where their development is controlled by subtle and presently underexplored cues. This raises a significant question: what instructions must be provided by this supporting niche to regulate NSC development and functions? Signaling from the niche is proposed to control many aspects of NSC behavior, including balancing the quiescence and proliferation of NSCs, determining the cell division mode (symmetric versus asymmetric), and preventing premature depletion of stem cells to maintain neurogenesis throughout life. Interactions between neurogenic niches and NSCs also govern the homeostatic regulation of adult neurogenesis under diverse physiological, environmental, and pathological conditions. An important implication from revisiting many previously-identifi ed regulatory factors is that most of them (e.g., the antidepressant fluoxetine and exercise) affect gross neurogenesis by acting downstream of NSCs at the level of intermediate progenitors and neuroblasts, while leaving the NSC pool unaffected. Therefore, it is critically important to address how various niche components, signaling pathways, and environmental stimuli differentially regulate distinct stages of adult neurogenesis