Neural stem cells in the diabetic brain

Abstract

Experimental diabetes in rodents rapidly affects the neurogenic niches of the adult brain. Moreover, behavioral disorders suggest that a similar dysfunction of the neurogenic niches most likely affects diabetic and prediabetic patients. Here, we review our present knowledge about adult neural stem cells, the methods used for their study in diabetic models, and the effects of experimental diabetes. Variations in diet and even a short hyperglycemia profoundly change the structure and the proliferative dynamics of the neurogenic niches. Moreover, alterations of diabetic neurogenic niches appear to be associated with diabetic cognitive disorders. Available evidence supports the hypothesis that, in the adult, early changes of the neurogenic niches might enhance development of the diabetic disease.

Figure 1

The dynamics of proliferation and differentiation in the adult neurogenic niches. Neural stem cells (NSCs) divide, both symmetrically and asymmetrically for self-renewal and production of transit amplifying cells (TACs). The term neuroprogenitors encompasses TACs and true NSCs. TACs rapidly divide symmetrically to amplify the availability of neural and glial precursors and finally differentiate into one of the three neural lineages: neuronal (N), astroglial (A), or oligodendroglial (O).