INTRODUCTION: Since the early XX century, there have been numerous reports considering the possibility of neurogenesis in the adult mammalian brain. However, it took 30 years before the widespread skepticism and the technical limitations were overcome. Refined cell technique developments and clear-cut evidences of neurogenesis in avian and rodent brains boosted additional research and counteracted the "no-new-neuron-in-the-adult-brain" myth. Now, the debate has focused on its importance to existing neural circuits, which promises interesting perspectives in medical research. RESULTS: Reactive neurogenesis in the hippocampus occurs in different experimental models of temporal lobe epilepsy, among them those that present spontaneous limbic seizures after an episode of status epilepticus. Phylogenetic differences between rodents and humans probably exist, since it has been described a reduction of neurogenesis in children with severe epilepsy. Neurogenesis may also be altered in many other conditions including chronic antidepressant drug treatment. CONCLUSION: Therefore, understanding the mechanisms and functional implications of adult neurogenesis in different brain regions can shed light into how such neuronal plasticity can help in the treatment of neurological disorders. In particular, cell therapy is a promising approach in the biomedical field that will possibly have great impact in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as in the functional recovery of brain injuries.
neuronal plasticity; adult neurogenesis; adult neuronal proliferation; neurological disorders; epilepsy