Cited by 63Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsMemory and Neural MechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

An assessment of the existence of adult neurogenesis in humans and value of its rodent models for neuropsychiatric diseases

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Duque, Alvaro, Arellano, Jon I., Rakic, Pasko·2022·Molecular Psychiatry

Abstract

In sub-mammalian vertebrates like fishes, amphibians, and reptiles, new neurons are produced during the entire lifespan. This capacity diminishes considerably in birds and even more in mammals where it persists only in the olfactory system and hippocampal dentate gyrus. Adult neurogenesis declines even more drastically in nonhuman primates and recent evidence shows that this is basically extinct in humans. Why should such seemingly useful capacity diminish during primate evolution? It has been proposed that this occurs because of the need to retain acquired complex knowledge in stable populations of neurons and their synaptic connections during many decades of human life. In this review, we will assess critically the claim of significant adult neurogenesis in humans and show how current evidence strongly indicates that humans lack this trait. In addition, we will discuss the allegation of many rodent studies that adult neurogenesis is involved in psychiatric diseases and that it is a potential mechanism for human neuron replacement and regeneration. We argue that these reports, which usually neglect significant structural and functional species-specific differences, mislead the general population into believing that there might be a cure for a variety of neuropsychiatric diseases as well as stroke and brain trauma by genesis of new neurons and their incorporation into existing synaptic circuitry.

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [42]Duque A, Rakic P. Identification of proliferating and migrating cells by BrdU and other thymidine analogues. Benefits and limitations. In: Merighi A, Lossi L, editors. Immunocytochemistry and related techniques. Totowa, NJ: Springer; 2015, p. 123– 9.
  2. [86]Klosovskii B Fundamental priciples of the development, structure and function of the vaso-capillary network of the brain In: Haigh B, editor. The development of the brain and its disturbance by harmful factors. Oxford: Pergamon Press; 1963, p. 44– 54.

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Authors
Duque, A., Arellano, J. I., & Rakic, P.
Affiliations
Yale University (US)
Corresponding author
Rakic, Pasko
Venue
Molecular Psychiatry
Published
2021-10-19
Volume
27
Issue
1
Pages
377-382
ISSN
  • 1359-4184 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-5578
OpenAlex
W3205073971
Cited by
63
References
93
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 10
FWCI
1.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Molecular Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA023999)
  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Mental Health (MH113257)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
adult neurogenesis, human brain, rodent models, neuropsychiatric disorders, dentate gyrus, olfactory bulb, primate evolution, species differences, stroke, traumatic brain injury, synaptic circuitry
MeSH terms
Animals, Hippocampus, Humans, Neurons, Primates, Rodentia, Species Specificity, Neurogenesis

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