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Adult Glial Cell Proliferation and Neurogenesis

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The Gliocentric Brain

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Abstract

The nomenclature of stem and progenitor cells is reviewed. In the adult body, only glial cells and not neurons can proliferate. The glial cell with the highest proliferation rate is the oligodendrocyte progenitor followed by microglia. Astrocytes have a very low rate and brain macrophages do not divide inside the parenchyma. All these proliferation rates increase after injury, but they seem to be under neuronal control. This is most obvious in the case of oligodendrocyte progenitors which are on the receiving side of synapses with neurons. In three brain areas, glial cell-like stem cells can – through various proliferation steps and migration patterns – create new neurons. A minority of these neurons are incorporated into functional circuits. Injury can – depending on the species, location, and type of injury – increase adult neurogenesis. It is not clear if these mechanisms lead to functional replacement of damaged neurons. However, efforts are made to use these attempts for therapeutic interventions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

    Wolfgang Walz

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  1. Wolfgang Walz
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Walz, W. (2023). Adult Glial Cell Proliferation and Neurogenesis. In: The Gliocentric Brain. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-48105-5_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-48105-5_11

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-48104-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-48105-5

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