Summary Neurogenesis and gliogenesis continue in discrete regions of the adult mammalian brain. A fundamental question remains whether cell genesis occurs from distinct lineage-restricted progenitors or from self-renewing and multipotent neural stem cells in the adult brain. Here, we developed a genetic marking strategy for lineage-tracing of individual, quiescent, and nestin-expressing radial glia-like (RGL) precursors in the adult mouse dentate gyrus. Clonal analysis identified multiple modes of RGL activation, including asymmetric and symmetric self-renewal. Long-term lineage-tracing in vivo revealed a significant percentage of clones that contained RGL(s), neurons, and astrocytes, indicating capacity of individual RGLs for both self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation. Furthermore, conditional Pten deletion in RGLs initially promotes their activation and symmetric self-renewal, but ultimately leads to terminal astrocytic differentiation and depletion in the adult hippocampus. Our study identifies RGLs as self-renewing and multipotent neural stem cells and provides novel insights into in vivo properties of adult neural stem cells.

Adult neurogenesis arises from neural stem cells within specialized niches1–3. Neuronal activity and experience, presumably acting upon this local niche, regulate multiple stages of adult neurogenesis, from neural progenitor proliferation to new neuron maturation, synaptic integration and survival1, 3. Whether local neuronal circuitry has a direct impact on adult neural stem cells is unknown. Here we show that in the adult hippocampus nestin-expressing radial glia-like quiescent neural stem cells4–9 (RGLs) respond tonically to the neurotransmitter GABA via γ2 subunit-containing GABAA Rs. Clonal analysis9 of individual RGLs revealed a rapid exit from quiescence and enhanced symmetric self-renewal after conditional γ2 deletion. RGLs are in close proximity to GAD67+ terminals of parvalbumin-expressing (PV+) interneurons and respond tonically to GABA released from these neurons. Functionally, optogenetic control of dentate PV+, but not somatostatin- or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-expressing, interneuron activity can dictate the RGL choice between quiescence and activation. Furthermore, PV+ interneuron activation restores RGL quiescence following social isolation, an experience that induces RGL activation and symmetric division8. Our study identifies a niche cell-signal-receptor trio and a local circuitry mechanism that control the activation and self-renewal mode of quiescent adult neural stem cells in response to neuronal activity and experience.

Using immunohistology, electron microscopy, electrophysiology and optogenetics, we show that proliferating adult hippocampal neural precursors receive immature GABAergic synaptic inputs from parvalbumin-expressing interneurons. Recently shown to suppress quiescent neural stem cell activation, parvalbumin interneuron activation promotes newborn neuronal progeny survival and development. Our study suggests a niche mechanism involving parvalbumin interneurons that couples local circuit activity to diametric regulation of two critical initial phases of adult hippocampal neurogenesis.