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. 2011 Dec 27;122(1):142–152. doi: 10.1172/JCI43134

Figure 4. Obese mice do not lack hypothalamic stem cells but have a reduced number of actively proliferating cells.

Figure 4

The number of hypothalamic neural stem/progenitor cells in 16-week-old mice was examined using the neurosphere assay. (A and B) Neurospheres derived from DIO mice were of a similar size and appearance as those derived from lean controls. (C) However, DIO mice contain a higher number of hypothalamic neurosphere-forming cells than lean controls (n = 4 mice each; 2,000 cells plated per well). (D) Neurospheres from both DIO mice and lean controls expanded after passage. However, a greater number of secondary neurospheres were formed in DIO mice than in lean controls. (E) Sixteen-week-old mice were i.p. injected with BrdU and harvested 48 hours later. The number of newborn BrdU+ cells was significantly decreased in DIO mice compared with that in lean controls, although this decrease appeared mild compared with the loss observed 4 weeks after BrdU administration (see Figure 1). (F) This decrease in BrdU-labeled cells was mirrored by a reduction in Ki67-expressing glia in DIO mice compared with that in lean controls. Data are mean ± SEM. n = 4–7 chow; n = 4–5 DIO. Scale bar: 1 mm.