Hippocampal Neurogenesis and the Brain Repair Response to Brief Stereotaxic Insertion of a Microneedle
Figure 5
Microlesion stimulates neurogenesis. (a) Merged image of DCX and BrdU immunoreactive cells on the unlesioned control side (2 wks after the lesion). (b) Lesioned side illustrates increased DCX and BrdU (merged image). (c) Same as panel (b), but magnified; scale μm. Doublecortin (DCX) Immunoreactive cells in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus extend processes into the granular zone. The box inserted in (c) depicts confocal images of double-labeled DCX-BrdU cell at a higher power. Upper two panels are isolated for DCX (green) and BrdU (red) immunofluorescence, and the lower panel is the merged image ( μm). (d) Summary data of DCX signal expressed as percent of DG field. Lesioned side exhibits a significantly increased DCX signal compared to control at both 2 and 4 wks after the microlesion. Unlike microgliosis and astrocytosis, the DCX signal does not decline after 4 wks. (e) Cell counts of double-labeled immature neurons (DCX/BrdU) born within 2 days of lesion placement. The lesion significantly increased birth of new neurons compared to unlesioned control side. . However, the number of double-labeled cells was significantly less at 4 wks than observed at 2 wks.
