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Dystrophic microglia in the aging human brain
Author(s) -
Streit Wolfgang J.,
Sammons Nicole W.,
Kuhns Amanda J.,
Sparks D. Larry
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
glia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.954
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1098-1136
pISSN - 0894-1491
DOI - 10.1002/glia.10319
Subject(s) - microglia , senescence , biology , dystrophy , neuroscience , human brain , cerebral cortex , neuroglia , pathology , central nervous system , inflammation , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , medicine , genetics
We have studied microglial morphology in the human cerebral cortex of two nondemented subjects using high‐resolution LN‐3 immunohistochemistry. Several abnormalities in microglial cytoplasmic structure, including deramification, spheroid formation, gnarling, and fragmentation of processes, were identified. These changes were determined to be different from the morphological changes that occur during microglial activation and they were designated collectively as microglial dystrophy. Quantitative evaluation of dystrophic changes in microglia revealed that these were much more prevalent in the older subject (68‐year‐old) than in the younger one (38‐year‐old). Thus, we conclude that microglial dystrophy is a sign of microglial cell senescence. We hypothesize that microglial senescence could be important for understanding age‐related declines in cognitive function. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.