Microglial morphology in the somatosensory cortex across lifespan. A quantitative study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Microglia are essential brain cells that continuously survey their environment.
• Their morphology fluctuates significantly under physiological conditions, complicating analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify age-related changes in cortical microglia morphology.
• To establish a baseline for physiological microglial states across the lifespan.

Main Methods:

• Utilized semi-manual and semi-automatic methods for morphological assessment.
• Analyzed microglia number, surveillance, and branch structure from postnatal day 5 to 2 years.

Main Results:

• Identified fluctuating morphological parameters during development and aging.
• Observed rapid maturation followed by a stable adult phase and an aged phenotype.
• Detailed arborization analysis revealed age-dependent changes in branch length and terminal processes.

Conclusions:

• Microglial morphology is dynamic throughout life.
• Multiple morphological parameters are necessary to define the physiological state of microglia.