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Age-related Differentiation in Newly Generated DCX Immunoreactive Neurons in the Subgranular Zone of the Gerbil Dentate Gyrus

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Abstract

In the present study, we investigated age-related changes of newborn neurons in the gerbil dentate gyrus using doublecortin (DCX), a marker of neuronal progenitors which differentiate into neurons in the brain. In the postnatal month 1 (PM 1) group, DCX immunoreactivity was detected in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus, but DCX immunoreactive neurons did not have fully developed processes. Thereafter, DCX immunoreactivity and its protein levels in the dentate gyrus were found to decrease with age. Between PM 3 and PM 18, DCX immunoreactive neuronal progenitors showed well-developed processes which projected to the granular layer of the dentate gyrus, but at PM 24, a few DCX immunoreactive neuronal progenitors were detected in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus. DCX protein level in the dentate gyrus at PM 1 was high, thereafter levels of DCX were decreased with time. The authors suggest that a decrease of DCX immunoreactivity and its protein level with age may be associated with aging processes in the hippocampal dentate gyrus.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Mr. Seok Han, Mr. Seung Uk Lee and Ms. Hyun Sook Kim for their technical help in this study. This work was supported by the stem cell research program of Ministry of Science & Technology, grants (M10641450001-06N4145-00110).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Program for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, South Korea

    In Koo Hwang, Sun Shin Yi, Je Kyung Seong, In Se Lee & Yeo Sung Yoon

  2. Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, 200-702, South Korea

    Ki-Yeon Yoo & Moo-Ho Won

  3. Department of Biochemistry, College of Sciences, Yonsei University, Seoul, 120-749, South Korea

    Young-Guen Kwon

  4. The Heart Center of Chonnam National University Hospital, 8 Hak Dong, Dong Ku, Gwangju, 501-757, South Korea

    Young-Keun Ahn

  5. Institute of Neurodegeneration and Neuroregeneration, Hallym University, Chuncheon, 200-702, South Korea

    Moo-Ho Won

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  1. In Koo Hwang
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  2. Ki-Yeon Yoo
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Correspondence to Yeo Sung Yoon or Moo-Ho Won.

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Hwang, I.K., Yoo, KY., Yi, S.S. et al. Age-related Differentiation in Newly Generated DCX Immunoreactive Neurons in the Subgranular Zone of the Gerbil Dentate Gyrus. Neurochem Res 33, 867–872 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-007-9528-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-007-9528-1

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