ABSTRACT
Aim To explore the effect of nNOS specific inhibitor 7-nitrioindazole(7-NI) on the neurogenesis after focal cerebral ischemia in the adult mice dentate gyrus.Methods Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO).A bromodeoxyuridine(BrdU) method was used to identify the proliferated cells in hippocampal dentate gyrus.Step-down test was performed to assay the learning and memory function.Results The number of BrdU~+ cells was increased in the ipsilateral but not contralateral dentate gyrus after focal cerebral ischemia.7-NI promoted the increment in the ipsilateral dentate gyrus significantly.7-NI also improved the survival of the new-born cells,as well as the learning and memory function of ischemic mice.Conclusion Our results indicate that nNOS down-regulates the neurogenesis after focal cerebral ischemia.