3.3 Fingolimod treatment enhanced neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of PCP-treated rats
Since the learning and memory processes are closely related to hippocampal neurogenesis (Deng, Aimone et al., 2010), and fingolimod ameliorates hippocampal-dependent behavioural tasks, we reasoned that the potential effects of fingolimod may be involved in neurogenesis. Therefore, we performed BrdU, NeuN, and DCX staining to assess neurogenic potential in the hippocampus (Figure 4A). The results showed that the number of BrdU- (Figure 4B), BrdU/NeuN- (double-positive) (Figure 4C), and DCX-positive (Figure 4D) in the PCP-treated (10 mg/kg, i.p.) group was significantly lower than that in the control, indicating impairments of hippocampal neurogenesis. As expected, fingolimod treatment (0.5 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reversed this neurogenesis deficit by promoting neuronal proliferation in a dose-dependent manner.