Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Endogenous Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation in the Dentate Gyrus after Focal Brain Ischemia

Activity significantly influences endogeneous stem cell proliferation and neurogenesis under physiological conditions, but only little is known about the effects of environmental stimulation on these processes following brain insults like focal ischemic stroke. In the present study, we analyzed the proliferative response and differentiation of progenitor cells in the dentate gyrus after focal cortical infarcts in adult rats. Photothrombotic infarcts (PT) were induced in the forelimb sensorimotor cortex and the proliferation marker bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU, 50mg/kg per day) was injected intraperitoneally at day 3…