Neurogenic potential of Mueller glia in the adult mammalian retina

Abstract

Overturning the long-held dogma that the central nervous system (CNS) of adult mammals never regenerates, recent evidence has revealed that neural stem cells continually generate new neurons in two regions of the adult mammalian CNS: the hippocampus and the olfactory bulb. Although adult neurogenesis is limited outside these two regions, accumulating evidence indicates the existence of neural progenitors even in non-neurogenic regions. In the adult mammalian retina, Müller glia generate new retinal neurons in response to injury. The proliferation and differentiation of Müller glia-derived progenitors can be controlled by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. We propose a retinal regeneration therapy based on the manipulation of these endogenous progenitors. Here, we review adult neurogenesis and retinal regeneration in mammals, with an emphasis on the neurogenic role of glial cells.