Short CommunicationGadd45b Mediates Electroconvulsive Shock Induced Proliferation of Hippocampal Neural Stem Cells

•Electroconvulsive shock (ECS) induces adult neurogenesis in the mouse dentate gyrus.•ECS promotes proliferation of quiescent radial glial-like (RGLs) neural stem cells.•ECS promotes proliferation of amplifying non-RGL neural precursors.•Gadd45b does not affect basal proliferation level of RGLs and non-RGL precursors.•Gadd45b is essential for ECS-induced proliferation of both RGLs and non-RGLs.

BackgroundElectroconvulsive shock (ECS), also known as an electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), is an effective and safe treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders including pharmacoresistant major depressive disorder. Previous research in animal models suggests ECS efficacy is achieved by Gadd45b-mediated increases in adult hippocampal neurogenesis.Objective/hypothesisThe present study aims to delineate the role of Gadd45b in mediating proliferation of neural stem cell types including quiescent radial glia-like (RGL) and amplifying non-radial glia-like (non-RGL) neural precursors following ECS.MethodsRGL and non-RGL neural stem cell populations defined by co-localization of MCM2+ and nestin+ cells and morphologically by the presence of radial processes were stereologically analyzed.ResultsECS increased hippocampal density of both quiescent RGLs and amplifying non-RGLs.ConclusionsGadd45b mediates the action of ECS-induced proliferation through activation of quiescent neural stem cells.