强制运动促进成年大鼠海马齿状回神经发生并提高学习能力

为了探讨强制运动对成年大鼠海马齿状回（dentate gyrus,DG）神经发生的影响,强制大鼠在马达驱动的转轮中跑步,用5-溴-2-脱氧尿苷（5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine,BrdU）标记增殖细胞,巢蛋白（neuroepthelial stem cell protein,nestin）标记神经干细胞／前体细胞,然后用免疫细胞化学技术检测大鼠DG中BrdU及nestin阳性细胞。为了解强制运动后DG增殖细胞的功能意义,采用Y-迷宫检测大鼠的学习能力。结果表明,强制运动组DG中BrdU及nestin阳性细胞数均日月显多于对照组（P〈0．05）：强制运动对DG神经发生的效应有强度依赖性。Y-迷宫检测结果显示,强制运动能明显改善大鼠的学习能力。结果提示,在转轮中进行强制跑步能促进成年火鼠DG的神经发生,并改善学习能力。     

大鼠脑创伤后caspase-3的过度表达与细胞凋亡的关系

目的:探讨大鼠脑创伤后海马神经组织中casepase-3表达及其在细胞凋亡中的机制。方法:雄性Wistar大鼠72只随机分成对照组和创伤组,用Marmarou方法造成大鼠重型弥漫性颅脑创伤,采用免疫组织化学检测海马CA1区神经细胞casepase-3蛋白表达情况,原位细胞DNA断裂检测末端标记(TUNEL)法观察大鼠海马CA1区神经细胞凋亡动态变化。同时行TUNEL与caspase-3双标染色。结果:对照组海马区神经细胞casepase-3未见明显表达,创伤组海马CA1区神经细胞casepase-3表达在伤后3小时开始升高,伤后3天达高峰(P0.01),伤后7天下降明显。对照组海马区未见TUNEL阳性细胞,创伤组海马区TUNEL阳性细胞伤后3小时开始增多,伤后3天达高峰(P0.01),伤后7天下降。可见创伤组TUNEL染色与caspase-3免疫染色双标阳性的细胞伤后6小时细胞数量逐渐增多,于伤后3天达高峰(P0.01),伤后7天双标阳性细胞数量下降。Casepase-3表达与TUNEL阳性细胞明显相关(P0.01)。结论:大鼠脑创伤后casepase-3的过度表达是影响大鼠脑创伤后神经细胞凋亡原因之一,抑制casepase-3活性表达对神经组织起保护作用。     

IGF-1对不同年龄缺血性脑损伤大鼠神经发生的影响

目的:检测胰岛素样生长因子-1(IGF-1)对青年和老年大鼠局灶脑缺血后神经发生及其后细胞生存的影响.方法:健康雄性SD青年鼠(3-4个月)和老年鼠(1年)随机分组,侧脑室注入IGF-1,1天后进行大鼠大脑中动脉阻塞(MCAO),对照组由生理盐水取代.采用BrdU标记方法鉴定MCAO后7d和28d的增殖细胞.BrdU于MCAO后第6d由腹腔注入.免疫组化法检测7天后BrdU、PSA-NCAM标记细胞和28天后BrdU、BrdU/MAP2双标细胞.结果:老年组中BrdU阳性细胞的数目7d后较对照组增加5.1倍;青年纽中BrdU阳性细胞的数目7d后较对照组增加5.5倍.28d后,BrdU阳性细胞的残留率在青年IGF-1处理组和老年IGF-1处理组中分别是79.2%和75.1%,分别相对于对照组的77.1%和52.3%.老年组中PSA-NCAM阳性细胞的数目7d后较对照组增加3.2倍;青年组中PSA-NCAM阳性细胞的数目7d后较对照组增加3.7倍.28d后,BrdU/MAP2阳性细胞在青年IGF-1处理组较对照组增加7.0倍,在老年IGF-1处理组较对照组增加4.9倍.结论:此结果提示局部应用IGF-1进行缺血前预处理,在青年鼠和老年鼠中均能诱导神经发生,且在老年鼠中能明显提高神经发生后的增殖细胞的生存率和向神经元分化的能力.这一研究结果将有助于研究IGF-1在中老年脑损伤病人中的治疗性应用.     

大鼠脑创伤后caspase-3的过度表达与细胞凋亡的关系

目的：探讨大鼠脑创伤后海马神经组织中casepase-3表达及其在细胞凋亡中的机制。方法：雄性Wistar大鼠72只随机分成对照组和创伤组。用Marmarou方法造成大鼠重型弥漫性颅脑创伤,采用免疫组织化学检测海马CA1区神经细胞casepase-3蛋白表达情况,原位细胞DNA断裂检测末端标记（TUNEL）法观察大鼠海马CA1区神经细胞凋亡动态变化。同时行TUNEL与caspase-3双标染色。结果：对照组海马区神经细胞casepase-3未见明显表达,创伤组海马CA1区神经细胞casepase-3表达在伤后3小时开始升高,伤后3天达高峰（P〈0．01）,伤后7天下降明显。对照组海马区未见TUNEL阳性细胞,创伤组海马区TUNEL阳性细胞伤后3小时开始增多,伤后3天达高峰（P〈0．01）,伤后7天下降。可见创伤组TUNEL染色与caspase-3免疫染色双标阳性的细胞伤后6小时细胞数量逐渐增多,于伤后3天达高峰（P〈0．01）,伤后7天双标阳性细胞数量下降。Casepase-3表达与TUNEL阳性细胞明显相关（P〈0．01）。结论：大鼠脑创伤后casepase-3的过度表达是影响大鼠脑创伤后神经细胞凋亡原因之一,抑制casepase-3活性表达对神经组织起保护作用。     

局灶性脑缺血后海马齿状回神经发生及其与血管内皮生长因子关系的研究

目的研究成年大鼠局灶性脑缺血后海马齿状回（DG）神经发生的情况及其与血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）的关系,探讨脑缺血后神经发生及其调控机制。方法通过大脑中动脉阻断法（MCAO）建立大鼠局灶性脑缺血模型,以5-溴-2-脱氧尿核苷（BrdU）标记增殖的神经前体细胞（NPCs）,用免疫组化及免疫荧光双标记法动态检测脑缺血后不同时间DG神经细胞增殖及其分化,同时观察增殖细胞表达VEGF及其受体情况。结果与对照组相比,缺血侧DG的BrdU阳性细胞数在脑缺血后1d开始增加,7d达高峰,28d接近正常水平;BrdU/TuJ1、BrdU/MAP-2阳性双标细胞数在脑缺血后14d开始增加,28d达高峰;BrdU/GFAP阳性双标细胞数则无明显变化;增殖的BrdU阳性细胞同时表达VEGF及其受体FLK-1。结论大鼠局灶性脑缺血可激活DG自体NPCs原位增殖、分化,增殖的细胞同时表达VEGF及其受体可能是脑缺血后神经发生增强的调节机制之一。     

利多卡因和硫喷妥钠对培养的大鼠海马脑片神经元损伤的影响

目的 :观察利多卡因和硫喷妥钠对生后 2 2d大鼠培养海马脑片的实验型缺血后神经元损伤的影响。方法 :将培养的SD大鼠海马脑片实验型缺血 (缺氧缺糖 ) 1 0min ,给药组在缺血前 1 0min给予 1 0nmol/L、1 0 0nmol/L的利多卡因或 2 50nmol/L、60 0nmol/L的硫喷妥钠 ,缺血后换用正常培养基继续培养 7d ,并用荧光染料PropidiumIo dide(PI)连续观察海马CA1区和齿状回神经元的损伤。结果 :缺血后第 1d缺血组即出现神经元损伤高峰 ,CA1区和齿状回的PI指数显著增加 (P <0 .0 1 ) ;直至缺血后第 7d其损伤指数仍显著高于缺血前水平 (P <0 .0 1 )。两浓度的利多卡因和硫喷妥钠均可降低缺血后CA1区和齿状回神经元损伤的程度 (P <0 .0 1 ) ,并可将CA1区和齿状回的神经元损伤高峰推迟至缺血后第 3d。结论 :利多卡因和硫喷妥可减轻缺血后海马CA1区和齿状回的神经元损伤 ,推迟神经元的损伤高峰。     

骨髓干细胞动员对动脉粥样硬化破裂斑块的稳定与修复作用

目的研究自体骨髓干细胞动员对兔动脉粥样硬化（AS）破裂斑块的稳定与修复作用。方法用液氮冻伤术创建兔AS破裂斑块模型,动员组注射重组人粒细胞刺激因子（rhG-CSF）动员自体骨髓干细胞,对照组注射等量生理盐水,连续5 d。动员第5天抽血分离获取单个核细胞,BrdU标记后经静脉注入动物体内;分别于动员后3d和4周末抽血,ELISA法检测兔血清MMP-9、hsC-RP及PAI-1水平;动员后4周处死兔,HE染色和Masson三色染色观察斑块病理形态,免疫组化染色观察BrdU在斑块区表达情况。结果动员5 d后,动员组兔外周血有核细胞计数及单核细胞比例明显增高;动员后4周,动员组新生内皮细胞及胶原纤维明显增多,在斑块区发现有BrdU标记的阳性细胞,动员组血清MMP-9、hsC-RP及PAI-1水平明显降低。结论应用rhG-CSF动员自体骨髓干细胞能通过促进血管内皮细胞和胶原纤维再生,降低炎症因子及凝血纤溶因子而稳定与修复AS破裂斑块。     

神经上皮干细胞的分离培养及其体外分化特性的观察

目的探讨大鼠胚胎神经管神经上皮干细胞的分离培养条件,并观察其在体外的分化特性.方法采用显微解剖、机械吹打、无血清悬浮培养方法分离培养神经上皮干细胞,采用巢蛋白(nestin)免疫细胞化学染色技术检测神经上皮干细胞,用NSE和GFAP免疫组化染色检测并计数神经细胞和神经胶质细胞.结果大鼠胚胎神经管神经上皮干细胞在无血清培养基中可形成大量呈nestin抗原阳性细胞构成的神经球,经传代有血清培养后分化为NSE阳性和GFAP阳性细胞,其中NSE阳性细胞占细胞总数的47.7%,GFAP阳性细胞占细胞总数的39.8%.结论胎鼠神经管神经上皮干细胞在无血清培养中可增殖和传代,在有血清培养中可分化为神经细胞和神经胶质细胞,两者之比为47.7∶39.8.     

维甲酸和EGF对大鼠脑胚胎神经干细胞增殖和分化的影响

目的 观察全反式维甲酸(RA)和表皮生长因子(EGF)对大鼠胚胎神经干细胞增殖和分化的影响。方法 从大鼠胚胎脑中分离神经干细胞,经RA和EGF处理后,用台盼蓝确定细胞数量,BrdU标记分析细胞生长能力,采用免疫细胞化学法鉴定神经干细胞和分化的神经细胞。结果 20ng／ml EGF和1μmol／LRA处理的培养细胞均显示增殖效应,但EGF处理组增殖速度明显高于RA组,悬浮细胞中有大量nestin和BrdU阳性细胞。用EGF和EGE／RA诱导的神经元分化率分别为17％和31％,而RA处理的神经元分化率显升高至89％。由EGF、EGF／RA和RA诱导的星形胶质细胞分化率分别为83％、69％和11％。结论 EGF主要促进神经干细胞增殖并主要诱导星形胶质细胞的生成,RA主要诱导神经干细胞向神经元分化,二无明显协同效应。     

电针对不同剂量X射线照射C57小鼠神经干细胞增殖和分化的影响及机制

本文旨在探讨电针对不同剂量X射线照射C57小鼠海马区内源性神经干细胞增殖、分化及Notch信号通路的影响。将30日龄C57BL/6J小鼠随机分为对照组、放射线照射组和电针组。对照组不接受照射处理,放射线照射组小鼠接受10min的4、8或16 Gy X射线照射,电针组在相应照射后接受3个疗程的电针(百会、风府和双侧肾俞)治疗。用免疫组织化学方法检测海马区内源性神经干细胞增殖和分化情况,用RT-PCR和Western blot分别检测海马区Notch信号通路相关基因mRNA和蛋白的表达。结果显示,与对照组比较,放射线照射组海马BrdU阳性细胞(4、8 Gy亚组)和BrdU/NeuN双标阳性细胞(3个剂量亚组)数目均显著减少,而电针治疗可逆转以上变化。放射线照射组各剂量亚组BrdU/GFAP双标阳性细胞数目相对对照组均显著减少,而电针治疗可以逆转4和8 Gy剂量亚组的这一变化。此外,与对照组比较,放射线照射组各剂量亚组小鼠海马Notch1mRNA及蛋白表达均显著上调,而Mash1基因及蛋白表达显著下降;而与放射线照射组比较,电针组各剂量亚组海马Notch1mRNA及蛋白表达均显著下降,4和8 Gy亚组Mash1 mRNA和蛋白表达均显著增加。上述结果提示,放射线照射可以抑制小鼠海马区神经干细胞增殖和分化,电针(百会、风府和双侧肾俞)能够显著提高放射线照射小鼠海马区神经干细胞的增殖和分化,这一作用可能与Notch蛋白信号通路相关。     

Differential properties of dentate gyrus and CA1 neural precursors

In the present article we investigated the properties of CA1 and dentate gyrus cell precursors in adult rodents both in vivo and in vitro. Cell proliferation in situ was investigated by rating the number of cells incorporating BrdU after kainate-induced seizures. CA1 precursors displayed a greater proliferation capacity than dentate gyrus precursors. The majority of BrdU-labeled cells in CA1 expressed Nestin and Mash-1, two markers of neural precursors. BrdU-positive cells in the dentate gyrus expressed Nestin, but only a few expressed Mash-1. In animals pretreated with the antimitotic azacytidine, the capacity of kainate to enhance the proliferation was higher in CA1 than in the dentate gyrus. Differences in intrinsic progenitor cell activity could underlie these different expansion capacities. Thus, we compared the renewal- expansion and multipotency of dentate gyrus and CA1 precursors isolated in vitro. We found that the dissected CA1 region, including the periventricular zone, is enriched in neurosphere-forming cells (presumed stem cells), which respond to either EGF or FGF-2. Dentate gyrus contains fewer neurosphere-forming cells and none that respond to FGF-2 alone. Neurospheres generated from CA1 were multipotent and produced neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, while dentate gyrus neurospheres mostly produced glial cells. The analysis of the effects of EGF on organotypic cultures of hippocampal slices depicted similar features: BrdU and Nestin immunoreactivities increased after EGF treatment in CA1 but not in the dentate gyrus. These results suggest that CA1 precursors are more stem-cell-like than granule cell precursors, which may represent a more restricted precursor cell.     

Estradiol and GPER Activation Differentially Affect Cell Proliferation but Not GPER Expression in the Hippocampus of Adult Female Rats

Estradiol increases cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of the female rodent but it is not known whether the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), a membrane receptor, is involved in this process, nor whether there are regional differences in estradiol’s effects on cell proliferation. Thus, we investigated whether estradiol exerts its effects on cell proliferation in the dorsal and ventral dentate gyrus through GPER, using the GPER agonist, G1, and antagonist, G15. Ovariectomized adult female rats received a single injection of either: 17β-estradiol (10 μg), G1 (0.1, 5, 10 μg), G15 (40 μg), G15 and estradiol, or vehicle (oil, DMSO, or oil+DMSO). After 30 min, animals received an injection of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and were perfused 24 h later. Acute treatment with estradiol increased, while the GPER agonist G1 (5 μg) decreased, the number of BrdU+ cells in the dentate gyrus relative to controls. The GPER antagonist, G15 increased the number of BrdU+ cells relative to control in the dorsal region and decreased the number of BrdU+ cells in the ventral region. However, G15 treatment in conjunction with estradiol partially eliminated the estradiol-induced increase in cell proliferation in the dorsal dentate gyrus. Furthermore, G1 decreased the expression of GPER in the dentate gyrus but not the CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus. In summary, we found that activation of GPER decreased cell proliferation and GPER expression in the dentate gyrus of young female rats, presenting a potential and novel estrogen-independent role for this receptor in the adult hippocampus.     

Evidence that brain-derived neurotrophic factor is required for basal neurogenesis and mediates,in part,the enhancement of neurogenesis by dietary restriction in the hippocampus of adult mice

To determine the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the enhancement of hippocampal neurogenesis resulting from dietary restriction (DR), heterozygous BDNF knockout (BDNF +/-) mice and wild-type mice were maintained for 3 months on DR or ad libitum (AL) diets. Mice were then injected with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and killed either 1 day or 4 weeks later. Levels of BDNF protein in neurons throughout the hippocampus were decreased in BDNF +/- mice, but were increased by DR in wild-type mice and to a lesser amount in BDNF +/- mice. One day after BrdU injection the number of BrdU-labeled cells in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus was significantly decreased in BDNF +/- mice maintained on the AL diet, suggesting that BDNF signaling is important for proliferation of neural stem cells. DR had no effect on the proliferation of neural stem cells in wild-type or BDNF +/- mice. Four weeks after BrdU injection, numbers of surviving labeled cells were decreased in BDNF +/- mice maintained on either AL or DR diets. DR significantly improved survival of newly generated cells in wild-type mice, and also improved their survival in BDNF +/- mice, albeit to a lesser extent. The majority of BrdU-labeled cells in the dentate gyrus exhibited a neuronal phenotype at the 4-week time point. The reduced neurogenesis in BDNF +/- mice was associated with a significant reduction in the volume of the dentate gyrus. These findings suggest that BDNF plays an important role in the regulation of the basal level of neurogenesis in dentate gyrus of adult mice, and that by promoting the survival of newly generated neurons BDNF contributes to the enhancement of neurogenesis induced by DR.     

Age-dependent acute interference with stem and progenitor cell proliferation in the hippocampus after exposure to 1800 MHz electromagnetic radiation

To investigate the effects of exposure to an 1800 MHz electromagnetic field on cell death and cell proliferation in the developing brain, postnatal day 7 (P7) and P21 healthy Kunming mice were randomly assigned into the experimental and control groups. The experimental groups were exposed to an 1800 MHz electromagnetic field for 8 h daily for three consecutive days. The thymidine analog 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) was injected intraperitoneally 1 h before each exposure session, and all animals were sacrificed 24 h after the last exposure. Cell death and proliferation markers were detected by immunohistochemistry in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Electromagnetic exposure has no influence on cell death in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus in P7 and P21 mice as indicated by active caspase-3 immunostaining and Fluoro-Jade labeling. The basal cell proliferation in the hippocampus was higher in P7 than in P21 mice as indicated by the number of cells labeled with BrdU and by immunohistochemical staining for phosphor-histone H3 (PHH3) and brain lipid-binding protein (BLBP). Electromagnetic exposure stimulated DNA synthesis in P7 neural stem and progenitor cells, but reduced cell division and the total number of stem cells in the hippocampus as indicated by increased BrdU labeling and reduced PHH3 and BLBP labeling compared to P7 control mice. There were no significant changes in cell proliferation in P21 mice after exposure to the electromagnetic field. These results indicate that interference with stem cell proliferation upon short-term exposure to an 1800 MHz electromagnetic field depends on the developmental stage of the brain.     

Novel control by the CA3 region of the hippocampus on neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the adult rat

The dentate gyrus is a site of continued neurogenesis in the adult brain. The CA3 region of the hippocampus is the major projection area from the dentate gyrus. CA3 sends reciprocal projections back to the dentate gyrus. Does this imply that CA3 exerts some control over neurogenesis? We studied the effects of lesions of CA3 on neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus, and on the ability of fluoxetine to stimulate mitotic activity in the progenitor cells. Unilateral ibotenic-acid generated lesions were made in CA3. Four days later there was no change on the number of either BrdU or Ki67-positive progenitor cells in the dentate gyrus. However, after 15 or 28 days, there was a marked reduction in surviving BrdU-labelled cells on the lesioned side (but no change in Ki-67+ cells). pCREB or Wnt3a did not co-localise with Ki-67 but with NeuN, a marker of mature neurons. Lesions had no effect on the basal expression of either pCREB or Wnt3a. Subcutaneous fluoxetine (10 mg/kg/day) for 14 days increased the number of Ki67+ cells as expected on the control (non-lesioned) side but not on that with a CA3 lesion. Nevertheless, the expected increase in BDNF, pCREB and Wnt3a still occurred on the lesioned side following fluoxetine treatment. Fluoxetine has been reported to decrease the number of “mature” calbindin-positive cells in the dentate gyrus; we found this still occurred on the side of a CA3 lesion. We then showed that the expression GAP-43 was reduced in the dentate gyrus on the lesioned side, confirming the existence of a synaptic connection between CA3 and the dentate gyrus. These results show that CA3 has a hitherto unsuspected role in regulating neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the adult rat.     

Regional differences in enhanced neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of adult rats after transient forebrain ischemia

Neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus occurs throughout life. We observed regional differences in neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of adult rats following transient forebrain ischemia. Nine days after ischemic-reperfusion or sham manipulation, rats were given 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine-5'-monophosphate (BrdU), a marker for dividing cells. They were killed 1 or 28 days later to distinguish between cell proliferation and survival. Neurogenesis was evaluated by BrdU incorporation as well by identifying neuronal and glial markers in six regions of the dentate gyrus: rostral, middle and caudal along the rostrocaudal axis, each further divided into suprapyramidal and infrapyramidal blade subregions. In control rats BrdU-positive cells in the rostral subregions were significantly lower in the suprapyramidal than in the infrapyramidal blades at both 1 and 28 days after BrdU injection. One day after injection, BrdU-positive cells had increased more in five of the subregions in the ischemic rats than in the controls, the exception being the suprapyramidal blade of the rostral subregion. At 28 days after BrdU injection, numbers of BrdU-positive cells were higher in four subregions in the ischemic group, the exceptions being the rostral suprapyramidal and middle infrapyramidal blades. At 28 days after BrdU injection, the percentages of BrdU positive cells that expressed a neuronal marker (NeuN) were the same in the dentate granule cell layers of ischemic and control rats. Our data thus demonstrate regional differences in enhanced neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of adult rats after transient forebrain ischemia.     

Enriched environment increases neurogenesis in the adult rat dentate gyrus and improves spatial memory.

The fetal and even the young brain possesses a considerable degree of plasticity. The plasticity and rate of neurogenesis in the adult brain is much less pronounced. The present study was conducted to investigate whether housing conditions affect neurogenesis, learning, and memory in adult rats. Three-month-old rats housed either in isolation or in an enriched environment were injected intraperitoneally with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) to detect proliferation among progenitor cells and to follow their fate in the dentate gyrus. The rats were sacrificed either 1 day or 4 weeks after BrdU injections. This experimental paradigm allows for discrimination between proliferative effects and survival effects on the newborn progenitors elicited by different housing conditions. The number of newborn cells in the dentate gyrus was not altered 1 day after BrdU injections. In contrast, the number of surviving progenitors 1 month after BrdU injections was markedly increased in animals housed in an enriched environment. The relative ratio of neurogenesis and gliogenesis was not affected by environmental conditions, as estimated by double-labeling immunofluorescence staining with antibodies against BrdU and either the neuronal marker calbindin D28k or the glial marker GFAp, resulting in a net increase in neurogenesis in animals housed in an enriched environment. Furthermore, we show that adult rats housed in an enriched environment show improved performance in a spatial learning test. The results suggest that environmental cues can enhance neurogenesis in the adult hippocampal region, which is associated with improved spatial memory.     

Polysialic acid regulates the clustering, migration, and neuronal differentiation of progenitor cells in the adult hippocampus

Newborn cells of the adult dentate gyrus in the hippocampus are characterized by their abundant expression of polysialic acid (PSA), a carbohydrate attached to the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM). PSA+ newborn cells of the dentate gyrus form clusters with proliferating neural progenitor cells, migrate away from these clusters, and terminally differentiate. To identify the roles of PSA in the development of adult progenitors of the dentate gyrus, we injected endoneuraminidase N (endoN) into the hippocampus of adult rats to specifically cleave PSA from NCAM. Two days later, we administered the mitotic marker, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU). Three days after BrdU injection, BrdU+ cells were found inside and outside the clusters of newborn cells. In endoN-treated animals, the total number of BrdU+ cells was not changed but significantly more BrdU+ cells were present within clusters, suggesting that PSA normally facilitates the migration of progenitors away from the clusters. Seven days post-BrdU injection, endoN-treated animals had significantly more BrdU+ cells which were also positive for the mature neuronal nuclear marker NeuN compared with controls, indicating that the loss of PSA from progenitor cells increases neuronal differentiation. This report is the first demonstration that PSA is involved in controlling the spatio-temporal neuronal maturation of adult hippocampal progenitors in the normal brain. In vitro, the removal of PSA from adult-derived neural progenitors significantly enhanced neuronal differentiation, strengthening our in vivo findings and indicating that PSA removal on isolated progenitor cells, apart from a complex in vivo environment, induces neuronal maturation.