Dual role of nitric oxide in adult neurogenesis

In the last decade, it has been demonstrated that neurogenesis persists in the adult mammalian brain and that it is induced after insults, where newborn neurons migrate to damaged areas, differentiate and contribute to the recovery. The understanding of the cellular and molecular events involved in this phenomenon could provide effective therapies not only to promote brain repair in stroke or seizures, but also to facilitate functional improvement in depression or Alzheimer. In this context, many advances have been made, such as the implication of different growth factors, membrane receptors, and most importantly diffusible messengers like nitric oxide (NO). We review here studies in both normal and pathophysiological conditions that suggest a dual role for NO in adult neurogenesis and its relation to different pharmacological strategies stimulating neurogenesis. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.