Title:Depletion of Hypocretin/Orexin Neurons Increases Cell Proliferation in the Adult Subventricular Zone
Volume: 17
Issue: 2
Author(s): Oscar Arias-Carrion*, Emmanuel Ortega-Robles, Benito de Celis-Alonso, Artur Palasz, Miguel A. Mendez-Rojas, Jose Salas-Pacheco and Eric Murillo-Rodriguez
Affiliation:
- Unidad de Trastornos del Movimiento y Sueno, Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez, Ciudad de Mexico,Mexico
Keywords:
Orexin, hypocretin, subventricular zone, hypothalamic area, narcolepsy, peptides.
Abstract: Background & Objective: Adult neurogenesis, a specific form of brain plasticity in
mammals that occurs in the subventricular zone, is subject to complex regulation. Hypocretin/orexin
neurons are implicated in the regulation of sleep and arousal states, among other functions. Here we
report for the first time the presence of orexinergic projections within the adult rat subventricular zone.
Post-mortem retrograde tracing combined with immunofluorescence indicated orexinergic projections
toward the subventricular zone. To establish the relationship between the depletion of orexin neurons
and the number of proliferating cells in the subventricular zone, we labeled mitotic cells. Histological
analysis revealed proliferating cells to be in close contact with orexinergic fibers. Neurotoxinlesioning
of orexin neurons in the lateral hypothalamus significantly activated precursor cell proliferation
in the subventricular zone. Furthermore, cell proliferation in both normal and lesioned animals
failed to reveal newly born orexin neurons in the lateral hypothalamus.
Conclusion: Based on these findings, we suggest that the adult subventricular zone is affected by
orexinergic signaling, the functional implication of which must be further elucidated.
