Neurogenesis in the adult dentate gyrus after cortical infarcts: effects of NMDA receptor blockade and anti-inflammatory treatment

Stimulation of cell proliferation and neurogenesis in the adult dentate gyrus (DG) has been observed after focal and global brain ischemia but only little is known about the underlying mechanisms. We analyzed neurogenesis after small cortical infarcts leaving the hippocampal formation and subcortical regions intact. Using the photothrombosis model, focal ischemic infarcts were induced in different cortical areas (sensorimotor forelimb and hindlimb cortex) and proliferating cells were labeled at day 3–14 after infarct induction with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). At 2, 4, and 10 weeks after ischemia, immunocytochemist…