X-Message-Number: 33289
Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2011 10:27:34 -0800 (PST)
From: 
Subject: neurogenesis

In Message #33280  wrote:

> there is essentially no neuronal cell division in the cerebral
> cortex of humans after the perinatal period.
> (Spalding KL, Bhardwaj RD, Buchholz BA, Druid H, Frisen  J. (2005)
>
Here's an update on the subject of neurogenesis, with some suggestions on
how to stimulate it.

Biol Psychiatry. 2008 Apr 1;63(7):650-5. Epub 2007 Dec 11.
New interneurons in the adult neocortex: small, sparse, but significant?

Cameron HA, Dayer AG. Unit on Neuroplasticity, Mood and Anxiety Disorders 
Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, 
Bethesda , Maryland 20892, USA.
Abstract

  During the last decade, the intense study of adult hippocampal neurogenesis 
  has led to several new lines of inquiry in the field of psychiatry. Although 
  it is generally believed that adult mammalian neurogenesis is restricted to 
  the hippocampus and olfactory bulb, a growing number of studies have described
  new neurons in the adult neocortex in both rodents and nonhuman primates. 
  Interestingly, all of the new neurons observed in these studies have features 
  of interneurons rather than pyramidal cells, the largest neuronal population 
  of the neocortex. In this review, we discuss features of these interneurons 
  that may explain why cortical neurogenesis has been so difficult to detect. In
  addition, these features suggest ways that production of even a small numbers
  of new neurons in the adult cortex could make a significant impact on 
  neocortical function.
PMID: 18067877
Free text>
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2423203/pdf/nihms43219.pdf

Blueberry pie anyone?

Nutr Neurosci. 2004 Oct-Dec;7(5-6):309-16.

Modulation of hippocampal plasticity and cognitive behavior by short-term 
blueberry supplementation in aged rats.

Casadesus G, Shukitt-Hale B, Stellwagen HM, Zhu X, Lee HG, Smith MA, Joseph JA. 
USDA, HNRC on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
Abstract

  During aging, reductions in hippocampal neurogenesis are associated with 
  memory decline indicating a causal relationship. Indeed, insulin-like growth 
  factor-1 (IGF-1), a major activator of the extracellular receptor kinase 
  pathway that is central in learning and memory processes, is also a key 
  modulator of hippocampal neurogenesis. Previously, we showed that age-related 
  declines in spatial memory tasks can be improved by antioxidant-rich diets 
  containing blueberries. In this study, to begin to understand the mechanisms 
  responsible for the beneficial effects of blueberries, we assessed changes in 
  hippocampal plasticity parameters such as hippocampal neurogenesis, 
  extracellular receptor kinase activation, and IGF-1 and IGF-1R levels in 
  blueberry-supplemented aged animals. Our results show that all these 
  parameters of hippocampal neuronal plasticity are increased in supplemented 
  animals and aspects such as proliferation, extracellular receptor kinase 
  activation and IGF-1 and IGF-1R levels correlate with improvements in spatial 
  memory. Therefore, cognitive improvements afforded by polyphenolic-rich fruits
  such as blueberries appear, in part, to be mediated by their effects on 
  hippocampal plasticity.
PMID: 15682927

Maybe mad scientists are onto something after all.


Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2011 Feb;65(1):77-81. doi: 
10.1111/j.1440-1819.2010.02170.x.

Chronic repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation increases hippocampal 
neurogenesis in rats.

Ueyama E, Ukai S, Ogawa A, Yamamoto M, Kawaguchi S, Ishii R, Shinosaki K. 
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama Department 
of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
Abstract

  Aim:  While the underlying therapeutic mechanisms of repetitive transcranial 
  magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment for depression remain unclear, recent 
  animal studies have suggested that hippocampal neurogenesis might be required 
  for the effects of antidepressant treatments including antidepressant drugs 
  and electroconvulsive therapy. The aim of this study was to examine chronic 
  rTMS effects on hippocampal neurogenesis in rats. Methods:  Using a 70-mm 
  figure-of-eight coil, the stimulating parameters were set to 25 Hz and 70% of 
  the rTMS device's maximum power. For 14 consecutive days, bromodeoxyuridine 
  (BrdU) and 1000 pulses of rTMS were administered daily. Cell proliferation in 
  the dentate gyrus was examined with immunohistochemistry. Results:  In the 
  rTMS-treated group, BrdU-positive cells were significantly increased in the 
  dentate gyrus. Conclusion:  Our results suggest that hippocampal neurogenesis 
  might be involved in the antidepressant effects of chronic rTMS.

C 2011 The Authors. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences C 2011 Japanese 
Society of Psychiatry and Neurology.
PMID: 21265939

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