New adult neurons and cocaine

Keywords: adult neurogenesis, cocaine, memory Abstract This document is discussed the concept of production of new neurons in adults and the effect of cocaine in memory and neurogenesis.

Exposition A novel and attractive field of research now focuses on the generation of new grown up neurons. The mature mammalian brain has two ma!or regions capable of continually producing new cells: the dentate gyrus "#$% of the hippocampus and the subventricular &one "'()% of the lateral ventricles. Neural stem cells have been recogni&ed as astrocytes in both regions. *n the #$, newly formed cells differentiate into granule neurons, which are integrated into the granular layer. *n the '(), neuroblasts move around a long distance via the rostral migratory stream "+,'% to the olfactory bulb "-.%, where they differentiate into granular and periglomerular interneurons. *n both cases, newly differentiate neurons are included in specific functional systems. The complete relevance of functional significance of grown up neurogenesis is yet uncertain. The careful ablation of the proliferative populations in neurogenic regions by irradiation or genetic management is established to produce severe cognitive deficits. *t is hypothesi&ed that neurogenesis in the -. are concerned in the functions, the consolidation of olfactory memory and the distinction of odors. /owever, the ma!ority of research wor0 has focused on adult neurogenesis in the #$. The function of #$ is incorporated in the neocortical hippocampus memory system, which is implicated in the establishment of temporal lobe dependent memories, such as episodic memories. 'ome authors have proposed that #$ function is related to the formation of wor0ing memory, complex spatial learning and associative context memories, and that new cells may play an important role in these processes. The results suggest that the 0ey to a deeper 0nowledge of mature neurogenesis function is better understanding of #$ and -. functions. 1roblem #rugs of abuse, such as nicotine, ethanol and cocaine have also recently been considered as negative factors that influence grown up neurogenesis, mainly in the hippocampus. 2hronic or acute use of these drugs can provo0e alterations in the proliferation rate, survival and differentiation of new cells in neurogenic regions. *n addition, some hippocampus dependent memories are affected by psychomotor drugs in humans and preclinical studies, and these memories are influenced by adult hippocampus neurogenesis.

2ocaine is one of the most widely consumed illegal drugs in developing countries and is associated with several health problems. This drug acts as an indirect agonist of several neurotransmitters, including dopamine "#A%, norepinephrine "NE%, and serotonin "3 /T%. 2hronic cocaine treatments produce toxicity and an increase in oxidative stress and pro inflammatory mediators. *n the #$, some cognitive functions such as wor0ing and recognition memory are affected by cocaine treatments. The drug alters neurotransmission at structural and functional levels. -n the other hand, in the adult brain, the implication of new hippocampal neurons in some memory processes is firmly documented. The effects of drugs on the hippocampal neurogenesis seem to induce alterations on memory performance. -ne report shows that adult neurogenesis is associated with drug ta0ing or drug see0ing behaviors. Also, that adult neurogenesis plays a function in addiction and relapse. The authors proposed that the suppression of new neurons may induce a hippocampal dishinbition, conduct to an enlarged activation of the neural circuit accountable for cocaine ta0ing. /owever, repeated cocaine administration reduces the threshold of long term potentiation "4T1%, re5uired for the long term memory, and may induce stronger context emotional memories. -ther types of memory without a high emotional association are not easy to lin0 with adult neurogenesis. *t has been described that wor0ing memory is damaged by high doses of cocaine. The involvement of new cells to the generation of hippocampus 4T1 and the improvement in encoding of new information are possible mechanisms that assist wor0ing memory. +esolution As occurs with most recreational drugs, cocaine impairs the normal incorporation of new cells into the #$ and -.. *f we suppose that these systems are essential for the distinction of analogous events, a less efficient system would ma0e it more complicated to forget memories associated with drugs and6or may be the cause of impairments of wor0ing memory. 'ome results indicate that adult neurogenesis is essential in certain situations with increased memory demands or high emotional interference, such as context conditioning memories and consolidation of drug see0ing behaviors. The modulation of adult neurogenesis by pharmacologic treatments or natural processes may contribute to an increase in the activity of the #$ and positively influence anxiety behaviors. 2losure The participation of the cocaine as a recreational product, in the deterioration of the wor0 and long term memory is very li0ely. *n addition, it is necessary to determine its precise effect on the production of new adult neurons.