Olfactory discrimination learning increases the survival of adult-born neurons in the olfactory bulb. - Institut Pasteur Access content directly
Journal Articles Journal of Neuroscience Year : 2006

Olfactory discrimination learning increases the survival of adult-born neurons in the olfactory bulb.

Cécile Viollet
Vannary Meas-Yedid
Pierre-Marie Lledo

Abstract

In the olfactory bulb (OB), new neurons are added throughout life, forming an integral part of the functioning circuit. Yet only some of them survive more than a month. To determine whether this turnover depends on olfactory learning, we examined the survival of adult newborn cells labeled with the cell division marker BrdU, administered before learning in an olfactory discrimination task. We report that discrimination learning increases the number of newborn neurons in the adult OB by prolonging their survival. Simple exposure to the pair of olfactory cues did not alter neurogenesis, indicating that the mere activation of sensory inputs during the learning task was insufficient to alter neurogenesis. The increase in cell survival after learning was not uniformly distributed throughout angular sectors of coronal sections of the OB. Monitoring odor activation maps using patterns of Zif268 immediate early gene expression revealed that survival was greater in regions more activated by the non-reinforced odorant. We conclude that sensory activation in a learning context not only controls the total number of newborn neurons in the adult OB, but also refines their precise location. Shaping the distribution of newborn neurons by influencing their survival could optimize the olfactory information processing required for odor discrimination.

Domains

Neurobiology

Dates and versions

pasteur-00161049 , version 1 (09-07-2007)

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Cite

Mariana Alonso, Cécile Viollet, Marie-Madeleine Gabellec, Vannary Meas-Yedid, Jean-Christophe Olivo-Marin, et al.. Olfactory discrimination learning increases the survival of adult-born neurons in the olfactory bulb.. Journal of Neuroscience, 2006, 26 (41), pp.10508-13. ⟨10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2633-06.2006⟩. ⟨pasteur-00161049⟩

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