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Rapid and Refined CD11b Magnetic Isolation of Primary Microglia with Enhanced Purity and Versatility

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Microglia Regulate Pruning of Specialized Synapses in the Auditory Brainstem.

Giedre Milinkeviciute¹, Caden M Henningfield¹, Michael A Muniak^2,3,4

¹Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States.

Frontiers in Neural Circuits

|September 27, 2019

Summary

Microglia are crucial for developing sound localization circuits. Their absence disrupts synaptic pruning in the auditory brainstem, impacting the formation of specialized auditory synapses.

Keywords:

CSF1R inhibitors MNTB auditory brainstem calyx of Held depletion microglia pruning

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Developmental Biology
Cell Biology

Background:

Glial cells influence synaptic development in sensory systems.
The role of microglia in auditory circuit assembly is not well understood.
The calyx of Held synapse in the MNTB is critical for sound localization.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of microglia in the development of the calyx of Held synapse.
To determine if microglia are involved in synaptic pruning and astrocyte maturation in the MNTB.

Main Methods:

Pharmacological depletion of microglia in developing mice using a CSF1R inhibitor.
Examination of mouse brainstems at postnatal days 8 and 13.
Analysis of MNTB neuron innervation and GFAP expression.

Main Results:

Microglia depletion led to increased polyinnervation of MNTB neurons, indicating impaired synaptic pruning.
Reduced expression of GFAP in microglia-depleted mice suggests delayed astrocyte maturation.
Monoinnervation of MNTB neurons by the calyx of Held was disrupted in the absence of microglia.

Conclusions:

Microglia play a significant role in the pruning of the calyx of Held synapse during auditory circuit development.
Microglia may also contribute to astrocyte maturation in the MNTB.
These findings highlight the essential function of glia in synaptic development and refinement.