Proliferation of neuronal precursor cells in the dentate gyrus is accelerated after transient forebrain ischemia in mice.

We investigated the proliferation of neuronal progenitor cells by labeling dividing cells by systemic application of the thymidine analog 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) during transient forebrain ischemia in mice. At 3 (n=6), 7 (n=6), 10 (n=6), and 17 days (n=6) after reperfusion, BrdU-labeled cells were detected in the dentate gyrus and paraventricle lesion. After ischemia-reperfusion, BrdU-labeled cells in the dentate gyrus significantly increased in number but not in the paraventricle lesion. These observations may help to clarify the mechanism of functional recovery after stroke.