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Transpupillary Two-Photon In Vivo Imaging of the Mouse Retina
Published on: February 13, 2021
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Microglia are dispensable for experience-dependent refinement of mouse visual circuitry
Thomas C Brown1, Emily C Crouse1, Cecilia A Attaway1
1Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, The University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA.
Nature Neuroscience
|July 8, 2024
Summary
Microglia do not appear essential for refining neural circuits. Studies show that removing microglia did not alter visual system development or function in mice.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, are increasingly implicated in synaptic plasticity and neural circuit development.
- Their precise role in the experience-dependent refinement of sensory systems, however, remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the necessity of microglia for the developmental maturation of the visual system.
- To determine if microglia are required for experience-dependent plasticity in the visual cortex.
Main Methods:
- Microglia were depleted in mice of both sexes using the chemical agent PLX5622.
- Visual circuitry and function were assessed, including retinal function, visual cortex neuron receptive field tuning, visual acuity, and plasticity.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed in retinal function between microglia-depleted and control mice.
- Receptive field tuning, acuity, and experience-dependent plasticity in the visual cortex were unaffected by the absence of microglia.
Conclusions:
- The findings challenge the hypothesized critical role of microglia in sculpting neural circuits during development.
- Microglia may not be essential for the experience-dependent refinement of the mammalian visual system.
