Fluoxetine inhibits the differentiation of hypothalamic neuroprogenitor cells.

<p>Hypothalamic neuroprogenitor cells were differentiated for 18 days, in the presence or absence of fluoxetine (1 µM). Representative confocal photomicrographs for mature neurons marker Neu-N (green) (<b>A</b>). Fluoxetine decreases the percentage of Neu-N positive cells and the incubation with Trk receptors inhibitor K252a (24 h) partially reverses this effect (<b>B</b>). Representative confocal photomicrographs for the progenitor cells marker SOX-2 (green) (<b>C</b>). Fluoxetine increases the percentage of SOX-2 positive cells and the incubation with K252a (24 h) does not change this effect (<b>D</b>). Fluoxetine does not up regulate the levels of neurotrophic factor BDNF but incubation with K252a (24 h) results in a compensatory increase of BDNF mRNA levels (<b>E</b>). DAPI (blue), nuclear staining. Mean ± SEM; n = 4/5; One-Way ANOVA; ns, p>0.05; *, p<0.05; ***, p<0.001 compared to control; NS, p>0.05, ^#, p<0.05 compared to fluoxetine. Scale bar: 50 µm.