Used primarily as a thymidine analog in cell biology research to detect and quantify cell proliferation. When added to cell cultures, it gets incorporated into the DNA of dividing cells during the S-phase of the cell cycle. After fixation and staining with specific anti-BrdU antibodies, the incorporated compound can be visualized using immunohistochemistry or flow cytometry. This allows researchers to study DNA replication, track cell division, and assess growth rates in various tissues, including neural, cancer, and stem cells. It is also employed in studies of neurogenesis and tumor biology to understand cell turnover and response to treatments.