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Investigating Long-term Synaptic Plasticity in Interlamellar Hippocampus CA1 by Electrophysiological Field Recording
Published on: August 11, 2019
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Sexually differentiated microglia and CA1 hippocampal synaptic connectivity.
Tim M Prengel1, Bianka Brunne1, Moataz Habiballa1
1Institute of Neuroanatomy, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Journal of Neuroendocrinology
|May 12, 2023
Summary
Sex differences in microglia influence synapse density in the female hippocampus at postnatal day 14. However, this does not significantly alter long-term hippocampal synaptic reorganization in mice.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Microglia play a crucial role in shaping neural circuits through synapse formation and elimination.
- Microglia exhibit sex-dependent differentiation, suggesting potential sex-specific roles in brain development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if sex-dependent microglial differentiation leads to sex-specific postnatal reorganization of hippocampal CA1 synaptic connectivity.
- To examine the role of microglia in synapse density regulation during early postnatal development.
Main Methods:
- Stereological counting of synapses using electron microscopy in mice.
- Analysis of microglial activity markers (morphology, CD68, proximity to synapses).
- Assessment of synaptic bouton density in Thy1-GFP mice.
Main Results:
- Synapse density increased continuously until week 4, then plateaued and declined, with no overall sex difference.
- Females exhibited significantly higher synapse density on postnatal day 14 compared to males.
- Higher female synapse density correlated with increased microglial activity and bouton density at postnatal day 14.
- Microglial role in regulating synapse density, particularly in forming multispine boutons, is supported.
Conclusions:
- While sexual differentiation of microglia influences synapse density transiently in females, it does not substantially impact long-term hippocampal synaptic reorganization.
- Microglia are key regulators of synapse density during early postnatal development, with sex-specific effects observed at a specific developmental window.
