Detection and Phenotypic Characterization of Adult Neurogenesis
- 1Institute for Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SE-405 30, Sweden
- 2Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9070
- 3Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm SE-171 77, Sweden
- 4Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois 60064
- Correspondence: georg.kuhn{at}neuro.gu.se
Abstract
Studies of adult neurogenesis have greatly expanded in the last decade, largely as a result of improved tools for detecting and quantifying neurogenesis. In this review, we summarize and critically evaluate detection methods for neurogenesis in mammalian and human brain tissue. Besides thymidine analog labeling, cell-cycle markers are discussed, as well as cell stage and lineage commitment markers. Use of these histological tools is critically evaluated in terms of their strengths and limitations, as well as possible artifacts. Finally, we discuss the method of radiocarbon dating for determining cell and tissue turnover in humans.
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