1) CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Portugal.
2) III-Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC), University of Coimbra, Portugal.
3) Institute of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics/IBILLI, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Portugal.
4) CNC,IBILLI-University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
5) Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Science Park of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) Leioa, Spain
6) Ikerbasque Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain.
7) Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Portugal.
8) Ministry of Education, Maputo, Mozambique
9) Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lisbon University, Portugal.
10) Department o of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Italy.
11) Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Portugal.


This poster as presented on July 9 th, at the FENS 11 Meeting in Berlin, Germany.
Brain cognitive reserve refers to the ability f the brain to manage different challenges that arise throughout life, making it resilient lent to neuropathology. Hippocampal adult neurogenesis has been considered as a relevant contributor for brain cognitive reserve and brain plasticity. The production of adulty hippocampal neurons requires the continuous division of neural stem/progenitor cells, differentiation of newly-generated granule cells and their integration into the pre-existing circuits under specified extracellular conditions. This integration into the hippocampal circuitry relies on newly-formed dendritic branches of pre-matured neurons that reach the dentate gyrus (DG) molecular layer (ML).
Conclusions
1. Coriolus versicolor biomass oral administration promotes a significant increase in dendritic length and branching, and total dendritic volume of immature neurons, suggesting a positive effect on the hippocampal neurogenic reserve.
2. Increased beta-catenin levels in cytoplasm and nucleus of DG immature neurons suggests that Wnt/beta-catenin signalling plays an important role in CV positive effect on dendritic complexity of hippocampal newly-generated neurons.
3. This so far unexplored neurogenic potential of Coriolus versicolor supplementation emerges as a possible preventive strategy for different neurological conditions.

The Coriolus versicolor biomass was supplied by Mycology Research Laboratories Ltd. (Luton, UK).