Spatial learning sculpts the dendritic arbor of adult-born hippocampal neurons.
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2010-04-07; 107(17): 7963-7968
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0914613107
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Tronel S(1), Fabre A, Charrier V, Oliet SH, Gage FH, Abrous DN.
Author information:
(1)Institut National de la santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité 862,
Neurocentre Magendie, Neurogenesis and Pathophysiology Group, 33077 Bordeaux,
France.
Neurogenesis in the hippocampus is characterized by the birth of thousand of
cells that generate neurons throughout life. The fate of these adult newborn
neurons depends on life experiences. In particular, spatial learning promotes the
survival and death of new neurons. Whether learning influences the development of
the dendritic tree of the surviving neurons (a key parameter for synaptic
integration and signal processing) is unknown. Here we show that learning
accelerates the maturation of their dendritic trees and their integration into
the hippocampal network. We demonstrate that these learning effects on dendritic
arbors are homeostatically regulated, persist for several months, and are
specific to neurons born during adulthood. Finally, we show that this dendritic
shaping depends on the cognitive demand and relies on the activation of NMDA
receptors. In the search for the structural changes underlying long-term memory,
these findings lead to the conclusion that shaping neo-networks is important in
forming spatial memories.
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0914613107
PMCID: PMC2867872
PMID: 20375283 [Indexed for MEDLINE]