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Updated: May 31, 2026
Quantifying Microglia Morphology from Photomicrographs of Immunohistochemistry Prepared Tissue Using ImageJ
Published on: June 5, 2018
Characterizing Microglia Morphology in the Frontal Cortex of Pair-Bonded and Unpaired Prairie Voles (Microtus
Tori Keefauver1,2,3,4, Kyle L Gobrogge1,2,5
1Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, College of Arts and Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Abstract:
Microtus ochrogaster, monogamous prairie voles, serve as translational animal models for studying monogamy and pair bonding. Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, are one of several cell types still poorly understood in non-classical animal models including prairie voles. Microglia are known to play mechanistic roles in mediating social behaviors using inflammatory signaling, but the relationship between microglia reactivity and pair bonding has not yet been investigated. The present study first developed a robust protocol for quantitative histological visualization of microglia in Microtus ochrogaster. Second, it investigated differences in microglia morphology, a reliable index of microglia reactivity and function, in pair-bonded vs. unpaired voles. Sections containing prefrontal cortex (PFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) were stained for ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule I (Iba1) using immunohistochemistry (IHC). IHC results provided evidence for the successful use of murine histological protocols in prairie voles. Quantification results revealed a sexually dimorphic effect of pair bonding on microglia: somas were significantly larger in pair-bonded vs. unpaired females, and somas were significantly smaller in pair-bonded vs. unpaired males. Additionally, somas were significantly larger in unpaired males than females, with larger somas indicating higher microglia reactivity. While conclusions are limited due to the small sample size, results provide novel characterization of microglia morphology in the frontal cortex and elucidate how pair bonding may influence microglia function in a sexually dimorphic manner.
Insights
Pair bonding influences brain microglia differently in male and female prairie voles. This study characterized microglia morphology, revealing sexually dimorphic changes in microglia reactivity associated with pair bonding.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Microglia, the brain's immune cells, are implicated in social behaviors.
- Their role in pair bonding, particularly in non-classical models like prairie voles, remains understudied.
- Understanding microglia function is crucial for studying social behaviors and monogamy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a protocol for visualizing microglia in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster).
- To investigate sex-specific differences in microglia morphology related to pair bonding.
- To explore the relationship between microglia reactivity and pair bonding in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC).
Main Methods:
- Developed and validated a quantitative histological protocol for prairie vole microglia using immunohistochemistry (IHC) for ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1).
- Analyzed microglia morphology (soma size) in the PFC and ACC of pair-bonded and unpaired male and female voles.
- Compared microglia soma size as an indicator of microglia reactivity between different social conditions and sexes.
Main Results:
- Successfully adapted murine IHC protocols for prairie vole microglia visualization.
- Identified sexually dimorphic effects of pair bonding on microglia morphology.
- Pair-bonded females showed larger microglia somas, while pair-bonded males exhibited smaller somas compared to unpaired voles.
- Unpaired males had larger microglia somas than unpaired females, suggesting higher microglia reactivity.
Conclusions:
- Pair bonding induces sex-specific alterations in microglia morphology and reactivity in the prairie vole frontal cortex.
- These findings provide novel insights into the neuro-immune mechanisms underlying pair bonding.
- Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm these sexually dimorphic effects.
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