[Abstract Title]. - Society for Neuroscience

229. Neuronal and Glial Proliferation III
Time: Sunday, November 16, 2008, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Program#/Poster#: 229.2/A2
Topic: A.02.a. Proliferation
Support: NIH Grant R15-NS054761
Title: Acute chemotherapy treatment yields long-lasting effects on cytogenesis in the mouse
dentate gyrus
Authors: *E. T. WEBER, K. A. VANDERGRIFT, C. M. MONDIE;
Dept Biol, Rider Univ., Lawrenceville, NJ
Abstract: The dentate gyrus of mammalian hippocampus is one of the few sites that produce
neuronal progenitor cells in the adult brain. Proliferation in the dentate gyrus is acutely and dosedependently
inhibited 50-75% by the antimitotic chemotherapy agent, thioTEPA, in young adult
(8 weeks old) C57BL/6J mice, as assessed by BrdU immunohistochemistry. In this study, longterm
effects of acute thioTEPA treatment on proliferative capacity in the dentate gyrus and
subsequent performance in depression-related behavioral tests were examined. Of the BrdUlabeled
cells that survive acute chemotherapy, none appear to persist for more than 3 weeks.
Measurements performed at intervals following chemotherapy treatment show an approximate
50% reduction in proliferative capacity in the dentate gyrus that persists for at least 12 weeks
after thioTEPA treatment. Assessment of depression-related behavior by tail suspension test
revealed no differences in performance between mice treated with thioTEPA or with vehicle
when tested up to 12 weeks following treatment, though recent preliminary data suggests a
significant increase when tested 30 weeks following chemotherapy treatment. No significant
differences in performance in the Porsolt forced swim test were measured up to and including 30
weeks post-treatment.
These results suggest that acute treatment with thioTEPA yields an immediate and long-lasting
effect on the capacity of the pool of progenitor cells in the dentate gyrus to proliferate.
Furthermore, this may yield behavioral effects that are not evident for many months beyond
treatment, suggesting a cumulative neurological deficit.
Disclosures: E.T. Weber , None; K.A. Vandergrift, None; C.M. Mondie, None.
Poster
229. Neuronal and Glial Proliferation III
Time: Sunday, November 16, 2008, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm