Cellular and molecular attributes of neural stem cell niches in adult zebrafish brain

Adult neurogenesis is a complex, presumably conserved phenomenon in vertebrates with a broad range of variations regarding neural progenitor/stem cell niches, cellular composition of these niches, migratory patterns of progenitors and so forth among different species. Current understanding of the reasons underlying the inter-species differences in adult neurogenic potential, the identification and characterization of various neural progenitors, characterization of the permissive environment of neural stem cell niches and other important aspects of adult neurogenesis is insufficient. In the last decade, zebrafish has emerged as a very useful model for addressing these questions. In this review, we have discussed the present knowledge regarding the neural stem cell niches in adult zebrafish brain as well as their cellular and molecular attributes. We have also highlighted their similarities and differences with other vertebrate species. In the end, we shed light on some of the known intrinsic and extrinsic factors that are assumed to regulate the neurogenic process in adult zebrafish brain. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 77: 1188-1205, 2017.