Intermittent fasting (IF) enhances cell proliferation and survival in the intact subventricular zone (SVZ), and protects against pathological increases with stroke. (A) The density of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-labeled cells in the SVZ is significantly increased with IF under basal conditions. After stroke, pathological increases in BrdU-labeled cell numbers are suppressed by IF. (B) Micrographs depict BrdU-labeled cells in the SVZ of mice in each condition. (C) The density of Ki67-labeled cells increases in intact mice on the IF diet, and pathological elevations in cell proliferation after stroke are suppressed. (D) Images of Ki67-labeled cells in the SVZ of mice in each condition. Scale bars, 50 μm (B, D). Arrows indicate labeled cells. For all graphs, asterisk (*) indicates significance at P<0.05 following 2 × 2 analysis of variance. AL, ad libitum.