Neurogenesis and neuroapoptosis in different brain structures of adult Wistar rats

In our study, which was performed with adult Wistar rats, we investigated the pecularities of neurogenesis in different brain regions known for their association with learning and memory. The number of cells positively stained for BrdU (marker of cellular proliferation) was counted at 24 hours, 15 days, and 30 days after BrdU administration in the dentate gyrus, CA1-CA4 hippocampal subfields, different areas of the cerebral cortex, and the cerebellar vermis using the immunofluorescence method. In these brain structures, we also counted the number of new cells that were double stained for neuronal (NeuN), astrocytic (GAFP), or apoptotic (ApoDNA) markers at all examined time points. It was found that in all the studied brain regions, new cells were generated and these cells further differentiated in the neurons and astrocytes. Significant inter-structure differences were found in the proliferation, differentiation, and apoptotic death of newly generated cells. The possible reasons for inconsistencies between our data on neurogenesis/apoptosis and those obtained by other researchers in adult Wistar rats are discussed.