Blade-dependent molecular identity and neurogenic potential in the adult dentate gyrus

Bhat, U. A.; Valbuena, S.; Marquez-Galera, A.; Tirado-Melendro, P.; Velotto, M.; Navarron, C. M.; Martins, F.; Doat, H.; Maitre, M.; Rouglan, V.; Leste-Lasserre, T.; Brochard, A.; Morales, A. V.; de la Prida, L. M.; Abrous, D. A.; Lopez-Atalaya, J. P.; Pacary, E.

doi:10.64898/2026.07.24.740228

bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.07.24.740228

Blade-dependent molecular identity and neurogenic potential in the adult dentate gyrus

Bhat, U. A.·Valbuena, S.·Marquez-Galera, A.·Tirado-Melendro, P.·Velotto, M.·Navarron, C. M.·Martins, F.·Doat, H.·Maitre, M.·Rouglan, V.·Leste-Lasserre, T.·Brochard, A.·Morales, A. V.·de la Prida, L. M.·Abrous, D. A.·Lopez-Atalaya, J. P.·Pacary, E.

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Abstract

The dentate gyrus (DG) is a key hippocampal gateway for cognition and emotion and a major site of adult neurogenesis, yet its organization along the transverse (suprapyramidal- infrapyramidal) axis remains poorly understood. Here, by integrating bulk RNA sequencing of microdissected mouse DG blades with spatial transcriptomics and single-nucleus RNA sequencing, we define the suprapyramidal and infrapyramidal blades (SB and IB) as distinct molecular compartments characterized by anterior-posterior-dependent gene expression programs. Functionally, the SB exhibits enhanced neurogenic activity, particularly in the anterior DG, including increased progenitor proliferation and neuronal differentiation, whereas the IB contains a larger pool of quiescent neural stem cells. Together, these findings reveal molecular and functional specialization along both transverse and longitudinal axes of the DG and provide a framework for interrogating hippocampal subregional organization in health and disease.

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Bhat, U. A., Valbuena, S., Marquez-Galera, A., Tirado-Melendro, P., Velotto, M., Navarron, C. M., Martins, F., Doat, H., Maitre, M., Rouglan, V., Leste-Lasserre, T., Brochard, A., Morales, A. V., de la Prida, L. M., Abrous, D. A., Lopez-Atalaya, J. P., Pacary, E.. 2026-07-28. Blade-dependent molecular identity and neurogenic potential in the adult dentate gyrus. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.24.740228

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