Migration of young neurons in adult avian brain (original) (raw)

Nature volume 335, pages 353–354 (1988)Cite this article

Abstract

Neurons are born in the ventricular walls of the vertebrate central nervous system. From there, the young neurons migrate to their final destinations, where differentiation occurs. Neuronal migration has been described during the ontogeny of the avian and mammalian brain. Whereas in mammals most neurogenesis occurs during early development1,2, in the adult avian forebrain widespread neurogenesis continues to occur3–7. How do neurons born in adulthood reach their final destination? We report here that small elongated cells8, born in the ventricular zone adjacent to the lateral ventricle, differentiate into mature neurons 20–40 days later, after migrating over distances of up to 5 mm. Migration rates are highest (28 μm h−1) when young neurons migrate through regions which are rich in radial glia. The adult vertebrate brain offers unique opportunities for studying factors that regulate neuronal migration, pathfinding and differentiation.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year

only $3.90 per issue

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rakic, P. Science 227, 1054–1056 (1985).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  2. Bayer, S. A., Yackel, J. W. & Puri, P. S. Science 216, 890–892 (1982).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  3. Goldman, S. A. & Nottebohm, F. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80, 2390–2394 (1983).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  4. Paton, J. A. & Nottebohm, F. Science 225, 1046–1048 (1984).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  5. Burd, G. D. & Nottebohm, F. J. comp. Neurol. 240, 143–152 (1985).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  6. Nottebohm, F. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 457, 143–161 (1985).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  7. Nottebohm, F. in Handbook of Physiology, The Nervous System Vol. 5 (eds Mountcastle, V. & Plum, F.) Part II (American Physiological Society, Washington, 1987).
    Google Scholar
  8. Alvarez-Buylla, A., Theelen, M. & Nottebohm, F. J. Neurosci. (in the press).
  9. Boulder Committee Anal. Rec. 166, 257–261 (1970).
  10. Alvarez-Buylla, A., Buskirk, D. R. & Nottebohm, F. J. comp. Neurol. 264, 159–170 (1987).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  11. Jacobson, M. Developmental Neurobiology, 66–87 (Plenum, New York, 1978).
  12. Edmondson, J. C. & Hatten, M. E. J. Neurosci. 7, 1928–1934 (1987).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  13. Rakic, P. J. comp. Neurol. 141, 283–312 (1971).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  14. Rakic, P. Trends Neurosci. 4, 184–187 (1981).
    Article Google Scholar
  15. Rakic, P. in The Cell in Contact: Adhesions as Morphogenetic Determinants (eds Edelman, G. E. & Thiery, J. P.) (Wiley, New York, 1986).
    Google Scholar
  16. Stokes, T., Leonard, C. M. & Nottebohm, F. J. comp. Neurol. 156, 337–374 (1974).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  17. Alvarez-Buylla, A. & Vicario, D. S. J. Neurosci. Meth. (in the press).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10021, USA
    Arturo Alvarez-Buylla & Fernando Nottebohm

Authors

  1. Arturo Alvarez-Buylla
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  2. Fernando Nottebohm
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Alvarez-Buylla, A., Nottebohm, F. Migration of young neurons in adult avian brain.Nature 335, 353–354 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/335353a0

Download citation

This article is cited by