Counting Fluorescently Labeled Cells Using Stereology

Title:

Effect of caloric restriction and transgenic overexpression of SOD1, an antioxidant, on hippocampal cytogenesis in aged mice

Researchers:

Christoph Schmitz

Method:

Tissue sections were stained with antibodies directed against NeuN (a marker for neurons), GFAP (a marker for astrocytes), and BrdU (a marker of proliferation) and counted using the optical fractionator method.

Results:

Dr. Schmitz found that caloric restriction but not overexpression of SOD1 resulted in a significant decrease in the number of BRDU positive cells within the hippocampus. No mature neurons or glia were double labeled with BrdU, consistent with studies indicating that neurogenesis and gliogenesis are very limited in the aged brain.

Reference:

Product used: Stereo Investigator Confocal SD