Embryonic and postnatal development of microglial cells in the mouse retina.
Macrophage/microglial cells in the mouse retina during embryonic and postnatal development were studied by immunocytochemistry with Iba1, F4/80, anti-CD45, and anti-CD68 antibodies and by tomato lectin histochemistry. These cells were already present in the retina of embryos aged 11.5 days (E11.5) in association with cell death. At E12.5 some macrophage/microglial cells also appeared in peripheral regions of the retina with no apparent relationship with cell death. Immediately before birth microglial cells were present in the neuroblastic, inner plexiform (IPL), and ganglion cell (GCL) layers, and their distribution suggested that they entered the retina from the ciliary margin and the vitreous. The density of retinal microglial cells strongly decreased at birth, increased during the first postnatal week as a consequence of the entry of microglial precursors into the retina from the vitreous, and subsequently decreased owing to the cessation of microglial entry and the increase in retina size. The mature topographical distribution pattern of microglia emerged during postnatal development of the retina, apparently by radial migration of microglial cells from the vitreal surface in a vitreal-to-scleral direction. Whereas microglial cells were only seen in the GCL and IPL at birth, they progressively appeared in more scleral layers at increasing postnatal ages. Thus, microglial cells were present within all layers of the retina except the outer nuclear layer at the beginning of the second postnatal week. Once microglial cells reached their definitive location, they progressively ramified.
Santos
Ana M
AM
Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, E-18071 Granada, Spain.
Calvente
Ruth
R
Tassi
Mohamed
M
Carrasco
Maria-Carmen
MC
Martín-Oliva
David
D
Marín-Teva
José L
JL
Navascués
Julio
J
Cuadros
Miguel A
MA
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D017628:Microglia / Q000502:physiology*; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D037121:Plant Lectins; C491049:Aif1 protein, mouse; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule; C036763:monocyte-macrophage differentiation antigen; C034981:tomato lectin