Cited by 741Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchMemory and Neural Mechanisms

Neurons born in the adult dentate gyrus form functional synapses with target cells

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Toni, Nicolas, Laplagne, Diego A, Zhao, Chunmei, Lombardi, Gabriela, Ribak, Charles E, Gage, Fred H, Schinder, Alejandro F·2008·Nature Neuroscience

Abstract

Adult neurogenesis occurs in the hippocampus and the olfactory bulb of the mammalian CNS. Recent studies have demonstrated that newborn granule cells of the adult hippocampus are postsynaptic targets of excitatory and inhibitory neurons, but evidence of synapse formation by the axons of these cells is still lacking. By combining retroviral expression of green fluorescent protein in adult-born neurons of the mouse dentate gyrus with immuno-electron microscopy, we found output synapses that were formed by labeled terminals on appropriate target cells in the CA3 area and the hilus. Furthermore, retroviral expression of channelrhodopsin-2 allowed us to light-stimulate newborn granule cells and identify postsynaptic target neurons by whole-cell recordings in acute slices. Our structural and functional evidence indicates that axons of adult-born granule cells establish synapses with hilar interneurons, mossy cells and CA3 pyramidal cells and release glutamate as their main neurotransmitter.

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  • The process by which newly generated neurons in normal development are incorporated into the granular cell layer is well established and involves expression of specific markers and development of defined neuronal morphology.

    “The process by which newly generated neurons in normal development are incorporated into the granular cell layer is well established and involves expression of specific markers and development of defined neuronal morphology24,26,34,35.”

    From Therapeutically viable generation of neurons with antisense oligonucleotide suppression of PTB (2021) · cites this paper as [34]

    The Results describe morphological maturation of adult-born granule-cell axons and compare their mature boutons with those of neurons born during early postnatal development. But the paper does not establish a process of incorporation into the granule cell layer during normal development or describe the expression of specific developmental markers; GFP was introduced to label the cells. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Mossy fibers from new granule cells begin to form synapses with excitatory pyramidal cells in CA3 and CA2 and with hilar mossy cells by approximately 2-3 weeks post-mitosis.

    “Mossy fibers from new granule cells begin to form synapses with excitatory pyramidal cells in the CA3 and CA2 subregions (Gu et al., 2012; Llorens-Martín et al., 2015; Toni et al., 2008) as well as with hilar mossy cells (Toni et al., 2008) by approximately 2–3 weeks post-mitosis (Figure 1B).”

    From Adult neurogenesis, glia, and the extracellular matrix (2019) · cites this paper as Toni et al., 2008

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Authors
Toni, N., Laplagne, D. A., Zhao, C., Lombardi, G., Ribak, C. E., Gage, F. H., & Schinder, A. F.
Affiliations
  • Salk Institute for Biological Studies (US)
  • Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (AR)
  • University of California, Irvine (US)
Corresponding author
  • Gage, Fred H
  • Schinder, Alejandro F
Venue
Nature Neuroscience
Published
2008-07-11
Volume
11
Issue
8
Pages
901-907
ISSN
  • 1097-6256 (ISSN-L)
  • 1546-1726
OpenAlex
W2125095601
Cited by
741
References
37
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 40 · 2018: 43 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 47 · 2015: 53 · 2014: 54 · 2013: 56 · 2012: 59
FWCI
18.96
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Conicet (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
Funders
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • James S. McDonnell Foundation
  • Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS050217, R01NS038331, NS038331, NS050217)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Keywords
adult neurogenesis, dentate gyrus, granule cells, synaptogenesis, axon terminals, CA3 pyramidal cells, hilar interneurons, mossy cells, glutamate release, channelrhodopsin-2, retroviral labeling, hippocampus, synapse maturation
MeSH terms
Action Potentials, Animals, Carrier Proteins, Female, Humans, Interneurons, Light, Luminescent Proteins, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Moloney murine leukemia virus, Synaptic Transmission, Neurons, Organ Culture Techniques, Photic Stimulation, Synapses, Presynaptic Terminals, Genes, Reporter, Gene Transfer Techniques, Patch-Clamp Techniques, Glutamic Acid, GABA Antagonists, Dentate Gyrus, Mossy Fibers, Hippocampal, Mice

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