Neurogenesis

Neurogenesis is the process of neural stem cell differentiation into functional mature neurons. During this process neuronal transcription factors are activated, as well as developmental signaling pathways such as Notch and WNT. The neuronal maturation process involves not only intracellular signaling, but also extracellular changes. These extracellular changes include cellular migration to the appropriate brain area and development of dendritic and axonal contacts with other neurons. During the developmental process, neurons proliferate and differentiate. Neurons that are no longer needed during the developmental process undergo apoptosis. Neurogenesis was originally considered a developmental process, occurring only during embryonic development. However, neurogenesis now clearly plays an important role in adult neural functions such as synaptic plasticity. Dysregulation of neurogenesis during embryonic development leads to inborn neurological disorders, while dysregulation during adulthood is involved in psychological stress mechanisms.

QIAGEN provides a broad range of assay technologies for neurogenesis research that enables analysis of gene expression and regulation, epigenetic modification, genotyping, and signal transduction pathway activation. Solutions optimized for neurogenesis studies include PCR array, miRNA, siRNA, mutation analysis, pathway reporter, chromatin IP, DNA methylation, and protein expression products.