Minocycline Alleviates Cluster Formation of Activated Microglia and Age-dependent Dopaminergic Cell Death in the Substantia Nigra of Zitter Mutant Rat.

ABSTRACT: Microglial activation is a component of neurodegenerative pathology. Here, we examine whether activated microglia participate in age-related dopaminergic (DA) cell death in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) of the zitter (zi/zi) rat, a mutant characterized by deletion of the attractin gene. Confocal microscopy with double-immunohistochemical staining revealed activated microglia-formed cell-clusters surrounding DA neurons in the SNc from 2 weeks after birth. An immunoelectron microscopic study showed that the cytoplasm of activated microglia usually contains phagosome-like vacuoles and lamellar inclusions. Expression levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and inducible nitric oxide syntha

SUBMITTER: Taguchi D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7785462 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature