Figure 4

Survival of adult-born neurons is enhanced in hTM-DTA^iPet1 mice.

(a) Scheme of survival analysis. For studying the survival of neuron born before depleting 5-HTergic neurons (BrdU before TM), BrdU was injected for 3 consecutive days, followed by 4 times of TM administration. Mice were sacrificed 30 days after last TM administration. For studying the survival of neuron born after depleting 5-HTergic neurons (BrdU after TM), TM was administrated as above and BrdU was injected 30 days after TM administration. Mice were sacrificed 30 days after TM administration. (b,d,e) BrdU was injected before TM administration. More BrdU⁺ cells are labeled in hTM-DTA^iPet1 mice relative to control. (c–e) BrdU was injected 30 days after TM administration. More BrdU⁺ cells are labeled in hTM-DTA^iPet1 mice relative to control. Data of BrdU⁺ cells in mice with BrdU injected before TM administrationwere compared using Student’s t-test (p = 0.033 in d and e) and data of BrdU⁺ cells in mice with BrdU injected after TM administrationwere compared using Mann-Whitney rank sum test (p = 0.008 in d and e). (f–h) Double immunostaining of BrdU and NeuN was performed in both “BrdU before TM” and “BrdU after TM” groups. The ratios of BrdU⁺/NeuN⁺ to BrdU⁺ cells are comparable in both control and hTM-DTA^iPet1 mice, no matter whether BrdU was incorporated before or after TM administration. Data of percentage were compared using Student’s t-test. All data are presented as mean ± s.e.m. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01. Scale bars represent 100 μm in (b,c) and 50 μm in (f,g).