Responses of the SVZ to Demyelinating Diseases

The mammalian adult central nervous system (CNS) has an inherent ability to generate neurons and glia. The dogma that the adult CNS remains incapable of regeneration came from the observation that most neurons and glia are post-mitotic cells. However, this idea is now widely challenged by the demonstration that indeed mitotic cells are detected in restricted areas of the adult CNS. Among these regions, the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the forebrain is the largest germinative zone of the adult brain. It is also one of the most characterized germinative area at the cellular and molecular level. While most studies highlight the neurogenic potential of the SVZ, we will review its gliogenic potential in normal and demyelinating conditions.