Polysialic acid-expressing cells in adult neurogenesis

Abstract

In the vertebrate nervous system polysialic acid (PSA) has been identified as a carbohydrate portion of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM). PSA is principally expressed in the embryonic and early postnatal brain, and has important functions in neuronal development. However, distinct populations of PSA-expressing cells are present in two exceptional regions of the adult brain: the hippocampus and subventricular zone of the forebrain where neurogenesis continues into adulthood. The accumulating evidence has shown that the PSA-expressing immature neurons in the two adult neurogenic regions are different from mature neurons in morphological, biochemical and electrophysiological properties. Here we describe the nature of PSA-expressing immature neurons in the adult neurogenesis and discuss the function of PSA in the adult neurogenesis.