Are there proliferating neuronal precursors in adult rat dorsal root ganglia?

The origin of new neurons in dorsal root ganglia of adult rat was investiga ted using an experimental model in which postnatal neurogenesis naturally o ccurring is enhanced and restricted in a brief period of life. Possible mit otic origin of new neurons was investigated by means of 5-bromo-2-deoxyurid ine, anti-NF 200 antibody was used to detect if proliferated cells showed a neuronal phenotype. The results suggest that postnatal neurogenesis in dor sal root ganglia could depend only in part on precursor proliferation and t hat normally new neurons derive from the late differentiation of postmitoti c cells. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.