Adult-Born Hippocampal Neurons Are More Numerous, Faster Maturing, and More Involved in Behavior in Rats than in Mice

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1768-09.2009
• Publication Date: 2009-11-19T00:01:28Z
• Authors: Jason S. Snyder; Jessica S. Choe; Meredith A. Clifford; Sara I. Jeurling; Patrick Hurley; Ashly Brown; J. Frances Kamhi; Heather A. Cameron
• Keywords: Immediate early gene

Neurons are born throughout adulthood in the hippocampus and show enhanced plasticity compared with mature neurons. However, there conflicting reports on whether or not young neurons contribute to performance behavioral tasks, is no clear relationship between timing of maturation duration neurogenesis reduction studies showing deficits. We asked these discrepancies could reflect differences properties mice rats. report that adult rats a neuronal marker profile activity-induced immediate early gene expression 1–2 weeks earlier than those mice. They also twice as likely escape cell death, 10 times more be recruited into learning circuits. This comparison holds true two different strains mice, both which high rates relative other background strains. Differences limited hippocampus, density new neocortical was 5 greater Finally, test function, we find contribution fear memory much These results reveal substantial neuron function commonly studied rodent species.