Chronic morphine induces premature mitosis of proliferating cells in the adult mouse subgranular zone

Chitra D. Mandyam, Rebekah D. Norris, Amelia J. Eisch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

111 Scopus citations

Abstract

The birth of cells with neurogenic potential in the adult brain is assessed commonly by detection of exogenous S phase markers, such as bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Analysis of other phases of the cell cycle, however, can provide insight into how external factors, such as opiates, influence the cycling of newly born cells. To this end, we examined the expression of two endogenous cell cycle markers in relation to BrdU: proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and phosphorylated histone H3 (pHisH3). Two hours after one intraperitoneal BrdU injection, BrdU-, PCNA-, and pHisH3-immunoreactive (IR) cells exhibited similar distribution in the adult mouse subgranular zone (SGZ). Quantitative analysis within the SGZ revealed a relative abundance of cells labeled for PCNA > BrdU ≫ pHisH3. Similar to our reports in rat SGZ, chronic morphine treatment decreased BrdU- and PCNA-IR cells in mouse SGZ by 28 and 38%, respectively. We also show that pHisH3-IR cells are influenced by chronic morphine to a greater extent (58% decrease) than are BrdU- or PCNA-IR cells. Cell cycle phase analysis of SGZ BrdU-IR cells using triple labeling for BrdU, PCNA, and pHisH3 revealed premature mitosis in chronic morphine-treated mice. These results suggest that morphine-treated mice have a shorter Gap2/mitosis (G2/M) phase when compared to sham-treated mice. These findings demonstrate the power of using a combination of exogenous and endogenous cell cycle markers and nuclear morphology to track proliferating cells through different phases of the cell cycle and to reveal the regulation of cell cycle phase by chronic morphine.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)783-794
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Neuroscience Research
Volume76
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 15 2004

Keywords

  • Adult neurogenesis
  • Bromodeoxyuridine
  • Hippocampus
  • Phosphorylated histone H3
  • Proliferating cell nuclear antigen

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Chronic morphine induces premature mitosis of proliferating cells in the adult mouse subgranular zone'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this