title: In vivo optical imaging of neurogenesis: watching new neurons in the intact brain.
abstract: Adult neurogenesis is a highly dynamic process modulated by several pathologic and environmental factors, as well as by various compounds. So far, available techniques to study neurogenesis are lengthy and personnel and cost intensive. We developed a new tool based on the doublecortin promoter driving the expression of the luciferase reporter gene (DCX-promo-luciferase) in transgenic mice to perform in vivo imaging of neurogenesis. Indeed, the DCX-promo-luciferase mice allowed optical in vivo imaging of the onset of and increase in neurogenesis in developing fetal brains, as well as imaging of neurogenesis in the intact adult mouse central nervous system. Moreover, the capacity to specifically detect a small number of migrating neuronal precursors in vivo after transplantation is for the first time feasible using this DCX-promo-luciferase transgenic tool. The present imaging approach offers several crucial advantages over methods currently available, such as bromodeoxyuridine incorporation or labeling using iron oxide nanoparticles. Hence, it allows longitudinal study of neurogenesis in intact animals without the requirement of cellular prelabeling. Moreover, it guarantees that detection is specific for neuronal precursors and restricted to viable cells. Hence, our DCX-promo-luciferase transgenic model constitutes an effective tool that answers the pressing need for rapid investigation of the impact on neurogenesis of a large number of candidate compounds waiting to be tested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. sebastien.couillard-despres@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
authors.forename: Sebastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Couillard-Despres
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Finkl
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Winner
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ploetz
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wiedermann
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aigner
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bogdahn
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoehn
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aigner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D000089622:Doublecortin Domain Proteins; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C000714847:Dcx protein, mouse; D000089622:Doublecortin Domain Proteins; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D008156:Luciferases