A Profusion of Neural Stem Cells in the Brain of the Spiny Mouse, Acomys Cahirinus

Overview

Journal J Anat

Specialty Anatomy & Histology

Date 2020 Dec 5

PMID 33277722

Citations 2

Authors

Malcolm Maden

Nicole Serrano

Monica Bermudez

Aaron G W Sandoval

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The vast majority of neural stem cell studies have been conducted on the brains of mice and rats, the classical model rodent. Non-model organisms may, however, give us some important insights into how to increase neural stem cell numbers for regenerative purposes and with this in mind we have characterized these cells in the brain of the spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinus. This unique mammal is highly regenerative and damaged tissue does not scar or fibrose. We find that there are more than three times as many stem cells in the SVZ and more than 3 times as many proliferating cells compared to the CD-1 outbred strain of lab mouse. These additional cells create thick stem cell regions in the wall of the SVZ and very obvious columns of cells moving into the rostral migratory stream. In the dentate gyrus, there are more than 10 times as many cells proliferating in the sub-granular layer and twice the number of doublecortin expressing neuroblasts. A preliminary analysis of some stem cell niche genes has identified Sox2, Notch1, Shh, and Noggin as up-regulated in the SVZ of Acomys and Bmp2 as being down-regulated. The highly increased neural stem cell numbers in Acomys may endow this animal with increased regenerative properties in the brain or improved physiological performance important for its survival.

Citing Articles

Stroke-induced neuroplasticity in spiny mice in the absence of tissue regeneration.

Kidd B, Varholick J, Tuyn D, Kamat P, Simon Z, Liu L NPJ Regen Med. 2024; 9(1):41.

PMID: 39706830 PMC: 11662029. DOI: 10.1038/s41536-024-00386-8.

Breathing patterns and CO production in adult spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus).

Rana S, Sunshine M, Gaire J, Simmons C, Fuller D Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2022; 307:103975.

PMID: 36206972 PMC: 10112007. DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2022.103975.

References

Obernier K, Tong C, Alvarez-Buylla A . Restricted nature of adult neural stem cells: re-evaluation of their potential for brain repair. Front Neurosci. 2014; 8:162. PMC: 4060730. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2014.00162. View

Maden M, Manwell L, Ormerod B . Proliferation zones in the axolotl brain and regeneration of the telencephalon. Neural Dev. 2013; 8:1. PMC: 3554517. DOI: 10.1186/1749-8104-8-1. View

Lai K, Kaspar B, Gage F, Schaffer D . Sonic hedgehog regulates adult neural progenitor proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Nat Neurosci. 2002; 6(1):21-7. DOI: 10.1038/nn983. View

Brant J, Yoon J, Polvadore T, Barbazuk W, Maden M . Cellular events during scar-free skin regeneration in the spiny mouse, Acomys. Wound Repair Regen. 2015; 24(1):75-88. DOI: 10.1111/wrr.12385. View

Brant J, Lopez M, Baker H, Barbazuk W, Maden M . A Comparative Analysis of Gene Expression Profiles during Skin Regeneration in Mus and Acomys. PLoS One. 2015; 10(11):e0142931. PMC: 4659537. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142931. View

Quinones-Hinojosa A, Sanai N, Soriano-Navarro M, Gonzalez-Perez O, Mirzadeh Z, Gil-Perotin S . Cellular composition and cytoarchitecture of the adult human subventricular zone: a niche of neural stem cells. J Comp Neurol. 2005; 494(3):415-34. DOI: 10.1002/cne.20798. View

Kolb B, Morshead C, Gonzalez C, Kim M, Gregg C, Shingo T . Growth factor-stimulated generation of new cortical tissue and functional recovery after stroke damage to the motor cortex of rats. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2006; 27(5):983-97. DOI: 10.1038/sj.jcbfm.9600402. View

Siwak-Tapp C, Head E, Muggenburg B, Milgram N, Cotman C . Neurogenesis decreases with age in the canine hippocampus and correlates with cognitive function. Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2007; 88(2):249-59. PMC: 2173881. DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2007.05.001. View

Grandel H, Kaslin J, Ganz J, Wenzel I, Brand M . Neural stem cells and neurogenesis in the adult zebrafish brain: origin, proliferation dynamics, migration and cell fate. Dev Biol. 2006; 295(1):263-77. DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2006.03.040. View

10.

Jabes A, Banta Lavenex P, Amaral D, Lavenex P . Quantitative analysis of postnatal neurogenesis and neuron number in the macaque monkey dentate gyrus. Eur J Neurosci. 2010; 31(2):273-85. PMC: 2894978. DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.07061.x. View

11.

Gil-Perotin S, Duran-Moreno M, Belzunegui S, Luquin M, Garcia-Verdugo J . Ultrastructure of the subventricular zone in Macaca fascicularis and evidence of a mouse-like migratory stream. J Comp Neurol. 2009; 514(5):533-54. DOI: 10.1002/cne.22026. View

12.

Rodriguez-Perez L, Perez-Martin M, Jimenez A, Fernandez-Llebrez P . Immunocytochemical characterisation of the wall of the bovine lateral ventricle. Cell Tissue Res. 2003; 314(3):325-35. DOI: 10.1007/s00441-003-0794-1. View

13.

Kaslin J, Ganz J, Brand M . Proliferation, neurogenesis and regeneration in the non-mammalian vertebrate brain. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2007; 363(1489):101-22. PMC: 2605489. DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2006.2015. View

14.

Lipp H, Bonfanti L . Adult Neurogenesis in Mammals: Variations and Confusions. Brain Behav Evol. 2016; 87(3):205-221. DOI: 10.1159/000446905. View

15.

Breunig J, Silbereis J, Vaccarino F, Sestan N, Rakic P . Notch regulates cell fate and dendrite morphology of newborn neurons in the postnatal dentate gyrus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007; 104(51):20558-63. PMC: 2154470. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0710156104. View

16.

Patil S, Sunyer B, Hoger H, Lubec G . Apodemus sylvaticus (LOXT) is a suitable mouse strain for testing spatial memory retention in the Morris water maze. Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2008; 89(4):552-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2007.12.003. View

17.

Berg D, Kirkham M, Beljajeva A, Knapp D, Habermann B, Ryge J . Efficient regeneration by activation of neurogenesis in homeostatically quiescent regions of the adult vertebrate brain. Development. 2010; 137(24):4127-34. DOI: 10.1242/dev.055541. View

18.

Obernier K, Alvarez-Buylla A . Neural stem cells: origin, heterogeneity and regulation in the adult mammalian brain. Development. 2019; 146(4). PMC: 6398449. DOI: 10.1242/dev.156059. View

19.

Ponti G, Aimar P, Bonfanti L . Cellular composition and cytoarchitecture of the rabbit subventricular zone and its extensions in the forebrain. J Comp Neurol. 2006; 498(4):491-507. DOI: 10.1002/cne.21043. View

20.

Amrein I, Isler K, Lipp H . Comparing adult hippocampal neurogenesis in mammalian species and orders: influence of chronological age and life history stage. Eur J Neurosci. 2011; 34(6):978-87. DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2011.07804.x. View