L13 Flashcards
describe microglia
they are small cells (smallest glia cell) which are highly branched
each normally own domain (15-30µm)
what % of glial cells do microglia make up
5-20%
how are you able to identify microglia
whith
Immuno-cytochemical identification
Iba1 - actin binding proteins
what are the functions of microglia
homeostasis – routinely monitor extracellular environment
activity dependent synapse elimination
phagocytosis of surplus neural precursor cells
defence function -> normal (-> exacerbate inflammation)
many roles in disease processes
describe the distribution of microglia
Varies dependent on region
Greater in grey matter
Around synapses
With astrocytes
where do microglia stem from
development from haemopoietic cells of bone marrow (therefore they have the same generation as other immune cells)
Myeloid origin (not ectodermal)
when do microglia (MG) invade the CNS
in late embryonic development
describe the shape of MG
they have a variable shape depending on the arrangement of the actin cytoskeleton
what is Iba1 (actin binding protein 1) involved in
shape changes of the MG
We used this to identify microglia and it is involved in them dividing
are microglia able to divide
yes
Renew slowly at a median rate of 28% per year, and some
microglia last for more than two decades.
describe the ultrastructure of MG (what they would look like in an electron micrograph)
elongated nuclei “bean” shaped
with peripheral heterochromatin
scattered cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi
complexes at both poles
a microglial cell is adjacent to a neuron there is usually a thin astrocytic process
the microglia cells form depends on its function
what are the 2 forms that they can have
resting and activated
describe the resting state of MG cells
Resting (not moving)
but Ramified (branched) processes survey the
microenvironment (Surveying microglia),
Maintain a constant level of available microglia to
rapidly detect and fight infection
describe the activated state of MG cells
also known as Ameoboid
free movement throughout the neural tissue as it is scavenging,
phagocytose debris,
this is also the state in Development/pruning
what are the 3 reasons we are interested in MG function
we are interested in their
resting/servalent state
ability to detect injury
response to injury
why are we interested in MG resting state
we are interested in their ability to …
sense the condition of the extracellular milieu
synaptic pruning and developmental apoptosis, neurogenesis
assessing synapses
why are we interested in MG ability to detect injury
we want to know more about receptors in the microglial cell membrane and how they initiate the process of active response
why are we interested in MG cells response to injury
we are interested in the….
synthesis and release of chemokines – attract other microglia
Proliferation or entry of monocytes via BBB (often faulty in disease)
Become motile, apoptosis, phagocytic
how often is the entire volume of the brain surveyed by microglia cells
every 4-5 hours
Microglia actively survey and shape
neuronal circuit structure and function
why is this important
for homeostasis of the synapses
surveillance, pruning, phagocytosis, synaptic plasticity
what are some examples of neurological disorders that MG are associated with
OCD and retts syndrome
what is Apoptosis
Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death
what 2 things have effects on synaptic and neural development
cytokines/inflammation factors and growth factors