Suppression of adult neurogenesis impairs olfactory learning and memory in an adult insect.

摘要: Although adult neurogenesis has now been demonstrated in many different species, the functional role of newborn neurons still remains unclear. In house cricket, a cluster neuroblasts, located main associative center insect brain, keeps producing new interneurons throughout animal9s life. Here we address significance by specific suppression neuroblast proliferation using γ irradiation insect9s head and examining impact on learning ability. Forty gray performed first day life massively suppressed neuroblasts their progeny without inducing any noticeable side effect. We developed operant conditioning paradigm especially designed for crickets: “escape paradigm.” Using olfactory cues, visual or both, crickets had to choose between two holes, one allowing them escape other leading trap. Crickets lacking exhibited delayed when cues alone were used. Furthermore, retention 24 hr after was strongly impaired irradiated crickets. By contrast, instead ones provided, performance insects only slightly affected; both present, not from that controls. From these results, it can be postulated participate processing information required complex conditioning.