Plasticity of the central nervous system in adult vertebrates: immunohistochemical report on the eff ects of seasonal variations alone or coupled with induced cold shock on brain proliferation in fresh water or earth-dwelling Anamnia and heterothermic Amniota

Latent morphogenetic potentials may be used by Vertebrates to reconstitute parts of the body gone lost, even of the central nervous system. This issue is reviewed here for the brain and, quickly, the spinal cord of Anamnia and Amniota up to Reptiles, paying special attention to germinative areas (zonae germinativae) in the forebrain of Amphibians as model systems. The results in this field may guide to understand plasticity of the central nervous system also in higher Vertebrates.