Figure 2.

Schematic representation of how glucocorticoids could contribute to central nervous system homeostasis. During hippocampal neurogenesis, cell debris derived from apoptotic newborn cells and stress-induced glucocorticoid secretion promote microglia activation and transcriptional induction of the phagocytic receptor Mertk to regulate the production of new neurons in order to maintain homeostasis in the adult hippocampal neurogenic niche.