title: Short-term environmental enrichment exposure induces proliferation and maturation of doublecortin-positive cells in the prefrontal cortex.
abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated that doublecortin-positive immature neurons exist predominantly in the superficial layer of the cerebral cortex of adult mammals such as guinea pigs, and these neurons exhibit very weak properties of self-proliferation during adulthood under physiological conditions. To verify whether environmental enrichment has an impact on the proliferation and maturation of these immature neurons in the prefrontal cortex of adult guinea pigs, healthy adult guinea pigs were subjected to short-term environmental enrichment. Animals were allowed to play with various cognitive and physical stimulating objects over a period of 2 weeks, twice per day, for 60 minutes each. Immunofluorescence staining results indicated that the number of doublecortin-positive cells in layer II of the prefrontal cortex was significantly increased after short-term environmental enrichment exposure. In addition, these doublecortin-positive cells co-expressed 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (a marker of cell proliferation), c-Fos (a marker of cell viability) and NeuN (a marker of mature neurons). Experimental findings showed that short-term environmental enrichment can induce proliferation, activation and maturation of doublecortin-positive cells in layer II of the prefrontal cortex of adult guinea pigs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Central South University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Chunling
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Grade 2006, Eight-year Medicine Doctor Program, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Mengqi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Central South University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.affiliation: Grade 2011, Six-year Medicine Program of International Student, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Ngobe Akume
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Cynthia
authors.affiliation: Grade 2008, Eight-year Medicine Doctor Program, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Grade 2008, Eight-year Medicine Doctor Program, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhenyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Central South University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Central South University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Jufang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Central South University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xiong
keywords: 5-bromodeoxyuridine; NSFC grant; cell proliferation; doublecortin protein; guinea pig; neocortex; nerve regeneration; neural regeneration; neurogenesis; neurons; prefrontal cortex