Role of cyclooxygenases and prostaglandins in adult brain neurogenesis.

Abstract The telencephalon of adult mammals shows constitutive neurogenesis, and disease or traumatic injuries alter the rate of neurogenesis in the adult brain. Understanding the molecular signals that control adult brain neurogenesis is of crucial importance for the development of therapies to promote regeneration in the injured or diseased brain. Here, I reviewed our current knowledge on the role of cyclooxygenases and prostaglandins in controlling adult brain neurogenesis. Current data indicate that cyclooxygenase-2 derived prostaglandin E2 acting through EP receptors promotes neurogenesis in adult neurogenic niches of the telencephalon and that manipulations of this signalling pathway could be used to promote neurogenesis under pathological conditions. In this review article, I also propose new research directions to increase our knowledge on the role of this signalling pathway in neurogenesis.