Transient mild hypothermia differentially alters mitotic activity in normal and post-ischemic hippocampal slices from neonatal rats

The purpose of this study was to determine if mild hypothermia alters mitotic activity in normal and post-ischemic hippocampal slices. (1) Normothermic oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD 60 min) increased mitotic activity in the hippocampus up to 4d post-OGD. (2) Mild hypothermia (33 °C for 24 h) initiated after OGD stress reduced mitotic activity compared to normothermic controls up to 8 d post-OGD. (3) Mild hypothermia stimulated mitotic activity in normal (no OGD stress) hippocampus up to 24 h post-hypothermia. In conclusion, mild transient hypothermia can increase or decrease mitotic activity depending upon the experimental condition of the hippocampal slices when hypothermia is induced.