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Ultrastructural Analyses of Microglial Interactions with Synapses

Marie-Ève Tremblay1,2, Ania K Majewska3,4

  • 1Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|August 9, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Immunohistochemical electron microscopy (EM) visualizes microglial cells in the brain. This technique reveals microglial roles in synaptic pruning and stripping by detailing their interactions with neurons.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunohistochemistry

Background:

  • Microglial cells are crucial for brain function but challenging to identify ultrastructurally.
  • Understanding microglial morphology and interactions is key to neuroscience research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a protocol for immunohistochemical electron microscopy (EM) of mouse brain tissue.
  • To enable high-resolution visualization of microglial cells and their synaptic relationships.

Main Methods:

  • Tissue preparation for EM.
  • Immunocytochemical staining for ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1).
  • Imaging and analysis of microglial-synaptic interactions.

Main Results:

  • Successful identification of microglial cell bodies and processes using Iba1 staining.
  • Detailed visualization of microglial interactions with neuronal structures.
  • Insights into microglial roles in synaptic pruning and stripping.

Conclusions:

  • Immunohistochemical EM is an effective method for studying microglial ultrastructure and function.
  • The protocol facilitates high-resolution analysis of microglial-neuronal communication.
  • This technique advances understanding of microglial involvement in synaptic plasticity and neurological processes.
Keywords:
BrainElectron MicroscopyImagingImmunohistochemistryMicrogliaMouseSynapsesUltrastructural Analysis

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