Source Paper
Distinct Morphological Stages of Dentate Granule Neuron Maturation in the Adult Mouse Hippocampus
Chunmei Zhao, E. Matthew Teng, Robert G. Summers, Guo-li Ming, Fred H. Gage
Journal of Neuroscience • 2006
Age and Experience-dependent Maturation Comparison
Objective: To identify distinct morphological stages of dentate granule neuron maturation in adult mouse hippocampus and assess how age and experience affect newborn neuron development by following dendritic and axonal growth using retrovirus-mediated gene transduction
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Materials1
Not specified • Not specified • Not specified • Not mentioned
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Protocol Steps
Retroviral transduction of newborn neurons
Apply retrovirus-mediated gene transduction to label adult-born neurons in the mouse dentate gyrus
Note: This allows tracking of dendritic and axonal growth over time
View evidence from paper
“By using retrovirus-mediated gene transduction, we followed the dendritic and axonal growth of adult-born neurons in the mouse dentate gyrus”
Monitor axonal projection development
Track when axonal projections of newborn neurons reach the CA3 area
Note: Axonal projections reach CA3 area 5-6 days before first spines are formed
View evidence from paper
“Axonal projections of newborn neurons reach the CA3 area 10–11 d after viral infection, 5–6 d before the first spines are formed”
Quantify spine growth
Perform quantitative analyses of spine formation and growth on newborn neurons
Note: Further structural modifications continue for months after peak growth period
View evidence from paper
“Quantitative analyses show that the peak of spine growth occurs during the first 3–4 weeks, but further structural modifications of newborn neurons take place for months”
Compare morphological maturation between age groups
Compare morphological maturation between adult and postnatal brains
Note: Morphological maturation is differentially affected by age
View evidence from paper
“The morphological maturation is differentially affected by age and experience, as shown by comparisons between adult and postnatal brains”
Compare morphological maturation between housing conditions
Compare morphological maturation between different housing conditions
Note: Experience (housing conditions) differentially affects morphological maturation
View evidence from paper
“The morphological maturation is differentially affected by age and experience, as shown by comparisons between adult and postnatal brains and between housing conditions”