Neurodegeneration severity can be predicted from early microglia alterations monitored in vivo in a mouse model of chronic glaucoma

摘要: Microglia serve key homeostatic roles, and respond to neuronal perturbation decline with a high spatiotemporal resolution. The course of all chronic CNS pathologies is thus paralleled by local microgliosis microglia activation, which begin at early stages the disease. However, possibility using live monitoring during disease progression predict severity neurodegeneration has not been explored. Because retina allows tracking fluorescent in their intact niche, here we investigated changes relation later optic nerve neurodegeneration. To achieve this, used DBA/2J mouse model inherited glaucoma, develops progressive retinal ganglion cell degeneration variable aging, represents useful study pathogenic mechanisms that are similar those human glaucoma. We imaged CX3CR1+/GFP microglial cells vivo ages ranging from 1 5 months confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (cSLO) quantified density morphological activation. detected head (ONH), where axonopathy first manifests, could track attenuation this induced minocycline. also observed heterogeneous dynamic patterns activation retina. When same animals were aged analyzed for pathology 10 months age, found strong correlation levels ONH 3 4 months. Our findings indicate imaging time glaucoma as indicators future severity.