Microglia acts as the first line of defense in the central nervous system, constantly scanning for pathogens and abnormalities and releasing small proteins called cytokines to help wade off infections. Previous research has shown that, in mice conditioned to fear a particular environment (contextual fear conditioning), microglia play a pivotal role in transferring traumatic memories from short to long-term memory (fear memory consolidation), and the memories subsequent extinction.
Now, Tohoku University scientists have demonstrated that microglial genes associated with the synapse — structures that allow neurons to pass signals to one another — undergo changes in response to the consolidation and extinction of contextual fear conditioning. This suggests that microglia and neurons crosstalk via ‘non-immune’ functions and clarifies the mechanisms linking microglia and neuronal…
-100x70.jpg "A Recap of UCSF Radiology at ASFNR 2019")
