Voluntary Wheel Running
Objective: Assessment of neurogenic stimulation effects on Tbr2+ intermediate progenitor cells and their clustering through voluntary running exercise in adult hippocampal neurogenesis
Gather these items before starting the experiment. Check off items as you prepare.
Equipment1
Not specified in provided text • Not specified in provided text • Not specified in provided text • Not specified in provided text
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Product links help support this free resource.
Protocol Steps
Voluntary wheel running exercise
Mice were provided access to voluntary running wheels to stimulate neurogenesis and assess effects on Tbr2+ intermediate progenitor cells
Note: This is a neurogenic stimulus that increases Tbr2+ IPCs
View evidence from paper
“The Tbr2+ IPCs were highly responsive to neurogenic stimuli, more than doubling after voluntary wheel running.”
Assessment of Tbr2+ IPC clustering
Quantification of Tbr2+ intermediate progenitor cell clusters and average cluster size in runner versus control mice
Note: Cluster size measured as Tbr2+ cells per cluster
View evidence from paper
“the Tbr2+ IPCs formed cellular clusters, the average size of which (Tbr2+ cells per cluster) likewise more than doubled in runners.”
Antimitotic drug treatment
Administration of antimitotic drugs to selectively deplete Tbr2+ IPCs and suppress neurogenesis
Note: Known to suppress neurogenesis and deplete Tbr2+ IPCs
View evidence from paper
“Tbr2+ IPCs were selectively depleted by antimitotic drugs, known to suppress neurogenesis.”
Recovery period after antimitotic treatment cessation
Observation of neurogenesis recovery following cessation of antimitotic drug treatment, including recovery of Tbr2+ IPCs
Note: Recovery of Tbr2+ IPCs includes transient rebound above baseline numbers
View evidence from paper
“After cessation of antimitotic treatment, recovery of neurogenesis was paralleled by recovery of Tbr2+ IPCs, including a transient rebound above baseline numbers.”
Transcription factor cascade analysis
Examination of Tbr2 in context of additional transcription factors (Pax6, Ngn2, Tbr2, NeuroD, Tbr1) to define transcriptional cascade in adult SGZ
Note: Same TF cascade found in adult SGZ as in embryonic neocortical neurogenesis
View evidence from paper
“Tbr2 was examined in the context of additional TFs that, together, define a TF cascade in embryonic neocortical neurogenesis (Pax6 → Ngn2 → Tbr2 → NeuroD → Tbr1).”