Enhanced plasticity of mature granule cells reduces survival of newborn neurons in the adult mouse hippocampus.

ABSTRACT: Dentate granule cells are born throughout life in the mammalian hippocampus. The integration of newborn neurons into the dentate circuit is activity-dependent, and structural data characterizing synapse formation suggested that the survival of adult-born granule cells is regulated by competition for synaptic partners. Here we tested this hypothesis by using a mouse model with genetically enhanced plasticity of mature granule cells through temporally controlled expression of a nuclear inhibitor of protein phosphatase ₁ (NIPP₁*). Using thymidine analogues and retrovirus-mediated cell labeling, we show that synaptic integration and subsequent survival of newborn neurons is decreased in NIPP₁*-expressing mice, suggesting that newborn neurons compete with preexisting granule cells for stable integration. The data presented here provides experimental evidence for a long-standing hypothesis and suggest cellular competition as a key mechanism regulating the integration and survival of newborn granule cells in the adult mammalian hippocampus.

SUBMITTER: Kleine Borgmann FB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7613637 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature