I am attempting to label proliferative cells in the rat brain (Hippocampus) using BrDU intraperitoneally. However, we are able to detect BrDU in gut cells, but not in the brain. Does anyone know why?
I think one issue might be the blood brain barrier. In this case, you may want to do intra-cranial injection, and see if you detect an improvement.
Proliferation in the hippocampus is very slow as compared to the intestine. This might explain why you cannot observe BrdU+ cells in the hippocampus I guess. You may want to increase the BrdU dose (50mg/kg body weight is usually used in mice) and perform repeated injections (5 injections i.p. every 2 hours within one day). You should be able to see the cells that have incorporated BrdU (don't forget to include an antigen retrieval step before the 1st antibody step, HCl 2N 90min works fine). As a positive cerebral region you can look at the wall of the lateral ventricle, which also hold neural progenitors with a faster division pace. Good luck
My previous experience with BrdU was to study hippocampal neurogenesis, I treated mice BID 50mg/kg IP. I also did antigen retrieval 2N HCI at 37oC for 30 min followed by 0.1M Boric Acid pH 8.5 at room Temp for 10 minutes prior to blocking and primary.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25184527
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24316470
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