Fig. 1

Spatiotemporal characteristics of neuroblasts migration after TBI. Coronal sections of forebrain were immunostained with anti-DCX antibody (red, neuroblasts) and DAPI (blue, nucleus). The level of neuroblast migration from SVZ into the CC and the perilesional cortex was determined by DCX/DAPI co-staining. A photomicrograph showing the distribution of DCX⁺ cells in the CCI groups (1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days after CCI) and the sham group. The DCX-positive cells were found in CC on day 1 post-CCI, and in cortex on day 3, day 14 and day 21 post-CCI. The DCX-positive cells were present in lesion cortex on post-CCI day 7. In the sham group, DCX positive cells were only observed in SVZ. Scale bar = 5 μm (A1–A6), Scale bar = 125 μm (a1–a6). B Images of DCX⁺/DAPI⁺ cells on day 7 post-CCI. DCX positive cells were observed as spherical clusters (b1) or assembled in chains (b2) or individual cells (b3 and b4). Scale bar = 5 μm (B1), Scale bar = 125 μm (b1–b4). C The number of migrating cells (DCX⁺ of DAPI⁺ cells) in the CC and cortex at different CCI time courses (1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days after CCI) and sham control. The number of DCX-positive cells increased above the baseline (sham control) level on day 1 and 3 post-CCI and increased significantly above the baseline on day 7 post-CCI (P < 0. 05). The number of DCX-positive cells declined on day 14 and 21 post-CCI, but still above the baseline (sham control) level (P < 0.05). Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM, n = 6 for each time-point. *, P < 0.05; one way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. CCI: controlled cortical impact; TBI: traumatic brain injury; SVZ: subventricular zone; DAPI: 4,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole; CC: corpus callosum