🧪 Lecture 11: Neurogenesis Techniques & Behaviour

What is BrdU and how is it used?

BrdU = Bromodeoxyuridine

A thymidine analog used to label dividing cells during neurogenesis studies.

What does immunohistochemistry (IHC) detect?

Detects proteins/antigens in tissue using antibodies for fluorescent or colorimetric staining.

• Visualizes specific antigens (proteins) in tissue using antibodies.

• Two forms:

  • Chromogenic (e.g., DAB → brown/black stain)

  • Fluorescent (e.g., for co-localisation studies)

Name the behavioral tests and what they measure

Test	What it Measures
Contextual Fear Conditioning	Memory of aversive stimuli; hippocampus + CA3
Spontaneous Location Recognition (SLR)	Pattern separation (DG function)
Touchscreen Discrimination	Spatial memory and separation
Open Field Test	Anxiety behaviour
Elevated Plus/Zero Maze	Exploration vs avoidance (anxiety)

What is the significance of SLR task?

Tests pattern separation — an essential hippocampal function influenced by AHN.

What other tasks assess neurogenesis-related behavior?

touchscreen location discrimination tasks and open field test for anxiety.