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Adrenalectomy increases neurogenesis but not PSA‐NCAM expression in aged dentate gyrus
Author(s) -
Montaron M. F.,
Petry K. G.,
Rodriguez J. J.,
Marinelli M.,
Aurousseau C.,
Rougon G.,
Le Moal M.,
Abrous D. N.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1460-9568.1999.00579.x
Subject(s) - neurogenesis , dentate gyrus , neural cell adhesion molecule , corticosterone , hippocampus , medicine , endocrinology , adrenalectomy , neural stem cell , neuroscience , psychology , biology , stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , cell adhesion , cell , hormone , genetics
Ageing is accompanied by a decline in neurogenesis and in polysialylated isoforms of neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA‐NCAM) expression within the hippocampus and by elevated basal levels of circulating corticosterone. In a companion study, we demonstrated that suppression of corticosterone by adrenalectomy increased neurogenesis and PSA‐NCAM expression in the dentate gyrus of adult rats. Here we show that adrenalectomy increased neurogenesis in this structure in old rats, as measured by the incorporation of 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine in neuronal progenitors. This effect was prevented by corticosterone replacement. In contrast, PSA‐NCAM expression remained unchanged in comparison with controls. Thus, in the aged brain, stem cells are still present and able to enter the cell cycle. This may point to ways of protecting or treating age‐related cognitive impairments.