CircRNA Cdyl promotes the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells via regulating miR-544-3p/Nr3c1 axis

Emerging evidence suggests that numerous circular RNAs (circRNAs) are abnormally expressed during neural stem cell (NSC) differentiation, which may play an important role in the fate of NSCs. Here, we explored the potential mechanism of circRNA Cdyl (circCdyl) in NSC proliferation and differentiation. SD rats underwent fimbria-fornix (FF) transection, while primary NSCs were induced to proliferate and differentiate. CCK8, qRT-PCR, Western blot, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence assay to confirm the function of circCdyl <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>. The results showed that circCdyl was elevated during NSC proliferation and differentiation, and in the hippocampus after FF transection. Besides, circCdyl overexpression promoted the proliferation and neuronal differentiation of hippocampal NSCs through miR-544-3p/subfamily 3 group C member 1 (Nr3c1) axis. <i>In vivo</i> experiments revealed that the overexpression of circCdyl promoted hippocampal neurogenesis and improved cognitive dysfunction after FF transection, which provides a potential therapeutic target for cognitive dysfunction.