(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate increases cell proliferation and neuroblasts in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus in adult mice.
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.
Yoo
Ki-Yeon
KY
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, and Institute of Neurodegeneration and Neuroregeneration, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon 200-702, South Korea.
Choi
Jung Hoon
JH
Hwang
In Koo
IK
Lee
Choong Hyun
CH
Lee
Soon Ok
SO
Han
Sag-Myung
SM
Shin
Hyung-Cheul
HC
Kang
Il-Jun
IJ
Won
Moo-Ho
MH
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*
C000714847:Dcx protein, mouse; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate