Evidence for postnatal neurogenesis in the human amygdala

Röder S, Burkardt P, Rost F, Rode J, Brusch L, Coras R, Englund E, Håkansson K, Possnert G, Salehpour M, Primetzhofer D, Csiba L, Molnár S, Méhes G, Tonchev AB, Schwab S, Bergmann O, Huttner H (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Book Volume: 5

Article Number: 366

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03299-8

Abstract

The human amygdala is involved in processing of memory, decision-making, and emotional responses. Previous studies suggested that the amygdala may represent a neurogenic niche in mammals. By combining two distinct methodological approaches, lipofuscin quantification and ¹⁴C-based retrospective birth dating of neurons, along with mathematical modelling, we here explored whether postnatal neurogenesis exists in the human amygdala. We investigated post-mortem samples of twelve neurologically healthy subjects. The average rate of lipofuscin-negative neurons was 3.4%, representing a substantial proportion of cells substantially younger than the individual. Mass spectrometry analysis of genomic ¹⁴C-concentrations in amygdala neurons compared with atmospheric ¹⁴C-levels provided evidence for postnatal neuronal exchange. Mathematical modelling identified a best-fitting scenario comprising of a quiescent and a renewing neuronal population with an overall renewal rate of >2.7% per year. In conclusion, we provide evidence for postnatal neurogenesis in the human amygdala with cell turnover rates comparable to the hippocampus.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Dresden Germany (DE) Technische Universität Dresden Germany (DE) Uppsala University Sweden (SE) MTA-DE Lendület Functional and Restoration Ecology Research Group Hungary (HU) University of Debrecen / Debreceni Egyetem Hungary (HU) Medical University of Varna / Медицинският университет „Проф. д-р Параскев Стоянов“ Bulgaria (BG) Lund University / Lunds universitet Sweden (SE)

How to cite

APA:

Röder, S., Burkardt, P., Rost, F., Rode, J., Brusch, L., Coras, R.,... Huttner, H. (2022). Evidence for postnatal neurogenesis in the human amygdala. Communications Biology, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-03299-8

MLA:

Röder, Sebastian, et al. "Evidence for postnatal neurogenesis in the human amygdala." Communications Biology 5.1 (2022).

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