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Odor enrichment increases hippocampal neuron numbers in mouse
Zoltan Rusznak Gulgun Sengu George Paxinos Woojin Scott Kim YuHong Fu
Zoltan Rusznak
Gulgun Sengu
George Paxinos
Woojin Scott Kim
YuHong Fu
Abstract
The hippocampus and olfactory bulb incorporate new neurons migrating from neurogenic regions in the brain. Hippocampal atrophy is evident in numerous neurodegenerative disorders, and altered hippocampal neurogenesis is an early pathological event in Alzheimer's disease. We hypothesized that hippocampal neurogenesis is affected by olfactory stimuli through the neural pathway of olfaction-related memory. In this study, we exposed mice to novel pleasant odors for three weeks and then assessed the number of neurons, non-neuronal cells (mainly glia) and proliferating cells in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb, using the isotropic fractionator method. We found that the odor enrichment significantly increased the neuronal cell numbers in the hippocampus, and promoted cell proliferation and neurogenesis in the olfactory bulb. In contrast, the glial cell numbers remained unchanged in both of the regions. Our results suggest that exposure to novel odor stimuli promotes hippocampal neurogenesis and support the idea that enriched environments may delay the onset or slow down the progression of neurodegenerative disorders.
Keywords
hippocampus, olfactory bulb, neurogenesis, odor stimuli, neurodegeneration, Alzheimer’s disease
Date
2018
Type
Journal article
Journal
Experimental Neurobiology
Book
Volume
27
Issue
2
Page Range
94-102
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
License
CC BY-NC 4.0
File Access
Open