Figure 1

Systemic GDF11 treatment enhances neurogenesis in the hippocampus of old mice. (a) Representative confocal images showing the effects of systemic GDF11 treatment on BrdU⁺/NeuN⁺ newborn neurons in the GCL of old mice. White arrows indicate representative cells that are positive for both markers. (b) Quantification of BrdU⁺/NeuN⁺ newborn neurons in GCL (total area). n = 4 for each experimental group. Data shown as mean ± s.e.m., statistical analysis by unpaired, two-tailed Student’s t-test, **p = 0.005 compared to vehicle control. (c) Representative confocal images showing the effects of systemic GDF11 treatment on Sox2⁺ Type1 neural stem cells in the GCL of old mice. White arrows indicate representative cells that are positive for the marker. (d) Quantification of Sox2⁺ Type1 neural stem cells in GCL (total area). n = 8 for each experimental group. Data shown as mean ± s.e.m., statistical analysis by unpaired, two-tailed Student’s t-test, ***p = 0.001 compared to vehicle control. (e) Representative confocal images showing the effects of systemic GDF11 treatment on DCX⁺ neural progenitor/immature neurons in the GCL of old mice. White arrows indicate representative cells that are positive for the marker. (f) Quantification of DCX⁺ neural progenitor/immature neurons in GCL (total area). n = 8 for each experimental group. Data shown as mean ± s.e.m., statistical analysis by unpaired, two-tailed Student’s t-test, *p = 0.03 compared to vehicle control.