Cellular and behavioral effects of cranial irradiation of the subventricular zone in adult mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In mammals, new neurons are added to the olfactory bulb (OB) throughout life. Most of these new neurons, granule and periglomerular cells originate from the subventricular zone (SVZ) lining the lateral ventricles and migrate via the rostral migratory stream toward the OB. Thousands of new neurons appear each day, but the function of this ongoing neurogenesis remains unclear.

Methodology/principal findings

In this study, we irradiated adult mice to impair constitutive OB neurogenesis, and explored the functional impacts of this irradiation on the sense of smell. We found that focal irradiation of the SVZ greatly decreased the rate of production of new OB neurons, leaving other brain areas intact. This effect persisted for up to seven months after exposure to 15 Gra

SUBMITTER: Lazarini F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2737283 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature