title: (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate increases cell proliferation and neuroblasts in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus in adult mice.
abstract: Neurogenesis is regulated by several factors such as age, stress and pharmacological agents. We observed the effects of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major catechin of green tea, on neurogenesis in mice. The animals were orally administered EGCG for 4 weeks. Brain sections were stained using a marker for cell proliferation (Ki67 and BrdU) and neuroblasts (doublecortin, DCX). In all groups, Ki67, BrdU and DCX immunoreaction were observed in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus. Oral administration of EGCG significantly increased the number of Ki67-, BrdU- and DCX-immunoreactive cells as well as BrdU/DCX-colabled cells in the subgranular zone when compared to those in the vehicle-treated group. These results indicate that oral administration of EGCG can enhance cell proliferation and increase the number of neuroblasts in mice hippocampal dentate gyrus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, and Institute of Neurodegeneration and Neuroregeneration, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon 200-702, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Yeon
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Jung Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: In Koo
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Choong Hyun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Soon Ok
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sag-Myung
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Hyung-Cheul
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Il-Jun
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Moo-Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Won
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D055495:Neurogenesis; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: C000714847:Dcx protein, mouse; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate