Abstract:
Rodent populations living in their natural environments have very diverse ecological
and life history profiles that may differ substantially from that of conventional laboratory
rodents. Free-living rodents show species-specific neurogenesis that are dependent
on their unique biology and ecology. This perspective aims to illustrate the benefit of
studying wild rodent species in conjunction with laboratory rodents. African mole-rats
are discussed in terms of habitat complexity, social structures, and longevity. African
mole-rats are a group of subterranean rodents, endemic to Africa, that show major
differences in both intrinsic and extrinsic traits compared to the classical rodent models.
Mole-rats exhibit a spectrum of sociality within a single family, ranging from solitary
to eusocial. This continuum of sociality provides a platform for comparative testing
of hypotheses. Indeed, species differences are apparent both in learning ability and
hippocampal neurogenesis. In addition, social mole-rat species display a reproductive
division of labor that also results in differential hippocampal neurogenesis, independent of
age, offering further scope for comparison. In conclusion, it is evident that neurogenesis
studies on conventional laboratory rodents are not necessarily representative, specifically
because of a lack of diversity in life histories, uniform habitats, and low genetic variability.
The observed level of adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus is the result of an intricate
balance between many contributing factors, which appear to be specific to distinct
groups of animals. The ultimate understanding of the functional and adaptive role of
adult neurogenesis will involve research on both laboratory animals and natural rodent
populations.
