Noradrenergic signaling in the wakeful state inhibits microglial surveillance and synaptic plasticity in the mouse visual cortex.

ABSTRACT: Microglia are the brain's resident innate immune cells and also have a role in synaptic plasticity. Microglial processes continuously survey the brain parenchyma, interact with synaptic elements and maintain tissue homeostasis. However, the mechanisms that control surveillance and its role in synaptic plasticity are poorly understood. Microglial dynamics in vivo have been primarily studied in anesthetized animals. Here we report that microglial surveillance and injury response are reduced in awake mice as compared to anesthetized mice, suggesting that arousal state modulates microglial function. Pharmacologic stimulation of β₂-adrenergic receptors recapitulated these observations and disrupted experience-dependent plasticity, and these effects required the presence of β₂

SUBMITTER: Stowell RD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6875777 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature