209556 Learning and Memory: Immunohistochemistry of the Hippocampus and Cortex (Ü) (SoSe 2008)

In this lab course we investigate the effects of learning and memory in the murine hippocampus and cortex. It is well known that living in enriched/impoverished conditions as well as physiological activity both enhance the generation of new neurons in the adult hippocampus. To label proliferating cells mice were injected with bromodesoxyuridine (BrdU). The number of BrdU-incorporating cells will be investigated in different regions of the cerebral cortex and in the hippocampus at different times after BrdU administration. To characterize the labelled cells (neuron/Glia) we use immunohistochemistry (NeuN, expressed in mature neurons and GFAP, immunoreactive for Glia cells). To investigate the results we use confocal microscopy. To understand the mechanism behind neurogenesis we will integrate the results in an existing model of the limbo-prefrontal system.