Short-term environmental enrichment exposure induces proliferation and maturation of doublecortin-positive cells in the prefrontal cortex

• Published in: Neural regeneration research 2014-02, Vol.9 (3), p.318-328
• Main Authors: Fan, Chunling, Zhang, Mengqi, Shang, Lei, Cynthia, Ngobe Akume, Li, Zhi, Yang, Zhenyu, Chen, Dan, Huang, Jufang, Xiong, Kun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brain; Cell proliferation; Mammals; Medical examination; Memory; Morphology; Neurogenesis; Neurons; Observations; Physiology; Prefrontal cortex; Properties; Proteins; Technical Updates; 性未成熟; 成年哺乳动物; 环境暴露; 短期; 细胞增殖; 诱导; 阳性细胞; 额叶皮层
• ISSN: 1673-5374; 1876-7958
• DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.128231

Previous studies have demonstrated that doublecortin-positive immature neurons exist pre- dominantly in the superficial layer of the cerebral cortex of adult mammals such as guinea pigs, and these neurons exhibit very weak properties of self-proliferation during adulthood under physiological conditions. To verify whether environmental enrichment has an impact on the proliferation and maturation of these immature neurons in the prefrontal cortex of adult guinea pigs, healthy adult guinea pigs were subjected to short-term environmental enrichment. Animals were allowed to play with various cognitive and physical stimulating objects over a period of 2 weeks, twice per day, for 60 minutes each. Immunofluorescence staining results indicated that the number of doublecortin-positive cells in layer II of the prefrontal cortex was significantly increased after short-term environmental enrichment exposure. In addition, these doublecortin-positive cells co-expressed 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine （a marker of cell prolifera- tion）, c-Fos （a marker of cell viability） and NeuN （a marker of mature neurons）. Experimental findings showed that short-term environmental enrichment can induce proliferation, activation and maturation of doublecortin-positive cells in layer II of the prefrontal cortex of adult guinea pigs.