Immunohistochemical localization of a macrophage-specific antigen in developing mouse retina: phagocytosis of dying neurons and differentiation of microglial cells to form a regular array in the plexiform layers.
In the developing mouse retina degenerating neurons can be observed initially in the ganglion cell layer followed by a phase of cell death in the inner nuclear layer. Using an immunohistochemical method to localize the mouse macrophage specific antigen F4/80, we show that macrophages migrate from the vascular supply overlying the developing retina and phagocytose the degenerating neurons. The macrophages subsequently differentiate to become the microglia of the retina and form a regularly spaced distribution across the retina in the inner and outer plexiform layers. These experiments provide strong evidence for the mesodermal origin of central nervous system microglia.
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002470:Cell Survival; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology*
D000941:Antigens