Microglia Dynamics and Interactions with Motoneurons Axotomized After Nerve Injuries Revealed By Two-Photon Imaging.

ABSTRACT: The significance of activated microglia around motoneurons axotomized after nerve injuries has been intensely debated. In particular, whether microglia become phagocytic is controversial. To resolve these issues we directly observed microglia behaviors with two-photon microscopy in ex vivo spinal cord slices from CX3CR1-GFP mice complemented with confocal analyses of CD68 protein. Axotomized motoneurons were retrogradely-labeled from muscle before nerve injuries. Microglia behaviors close to axotomized motoneurons greatly differ from those within uninjured motor pools. They develop a phagocytic phenotype as early as 3 days after injury, characterized by frequent phagocytic cups, high phagosome content and CD68 upregulation. Interactions between microglia and motoneurons changed with time a

SUBMITTER: Rotterman TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7250868 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature