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Related Experiment Videos

Microglia and cell death in the developing mouse cerebellum.

K Ashwell1

  • 1School of Anatomy, University of NSW, Kensington, Australia.

Brain Research. Developmental Brain Research
|September 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary

Microglia, immune cells in the brain, are crucial for cerebellar development, clearing cellular debris and shaping neural pathways. Their distribution and activity correlate with cell death during fetal and early postnatal stages.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Microglia are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system.
  • Their role in brain development, particularly in the cerebellum, is not fully understood.
  • Understanding microglial involvement is key to comprehending cerebellar morphogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the appearance and distribution of microglia in the developing cerebellum.
  • To correlate microglial distribution with patterns of cell death (pyknotic figures).
  • To elucidate the role of microglia in cerebellar development and tissue remodeling.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a Griffonia simplicifolia lectin conjugate for microglial identification.
  • Employed Nissl staining to visualize pyknotic figures (dying cells).

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  • Correlated microglial and pyknotic figure distribution across developmental stages (E11 to P14).
  • Performed electron microscopy to examine microglial phagosomes.

    • Main Results:

    • Round and ameboid microglia observed as early as embryonic day 11 (E11).
    • Microglial numbers increased, concentrating near dorsal and ventricular surfaces, then the cerebellar medulla.
    • Ameboid microglia and cell death peaked in the cerebellar medulla around postnatal day 1 (P1) and persisted until P10.
    • Microglia primarily phagocytosed entire cells, not axons, suggesting a role in clearing dead cells.
    • Discrepancies in microglial concentration were noted where cell death occurred in the external granular layer at P10 and P14.

    Conclusions:

    • Microglia play a significant role in cerebellar development, particularly in clearing apoptotic cells in the cerebellar medulla.
    • This clearance may facilitate the formation of neural pathways and contribute to the mechanical plasticity of the developing cerebellum.
    • Microglial activity is spatially and temporally linked to programmed cell death during cerebellar morphogenesis.