Paez-Gonzalez et al. (Duke University) have discovered a new population of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)+ neurons present in the rodent subventricular zone (SVZ). (1) This niche is known to be important in neurogenesis activity.
These ChAT+ neural cells have their own functional and structural characteristics. By example, optogenetic studies showed that ChAT+ neurons are necessary and sufficient to modulate neurogenic proliferation. The authors also found local interaction between SVZ Neural Stem Cells and acetylcholine locally released and synergic effects with FGF-R activation to raise neuroblast production.
The authors thus revealed an new gateway suggesting possibilities for modulating neuroregenerative capacities in health and disease as if “Neuron Tells Stem Cells to Grow New Neurons”. (2)
Sources:
(1) Patricia Paez-Gonzalez, Brent Asrican, Erica Rodriguez, Chay T Kuo”Identification of distinct ChAT+ neurons and activity-dependent control of postnatal SVZ neurogenesis” (2014) Nature Neuroscience. DOI:10.1038/nn.3734
Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
(2) Neuron Tells Stem Cells to Grow New Neurons – Researchers identify first piece of new brain-repair circuit (2014) by By Karl Leif Bates
