Novel Approach to Visualize Microglia Death and Proliferation After Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Mice.

BACKGROUND

Microglia are important brain immune cells. However, it is difficult to differentiate microglia from monocyte-derived macrophages. To visualize microglia changes following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), we utilized a genetic knock-in mouse line, Tmem119 (transmembrane protein 119)-EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein), which expresses EGFP specifically in microglia.

METHODS

There were 2 parts in this study. First, autologous blood was injected into the right basal ganglia to model ICH in Tmem119-EGFP mice. Mice were euthanized at 4 hours, days 1, 3, and 7 after ICH. Sham animals were used as controls. Second, Tmem119-EGFP mice were injected with iron or thrombin, factors involved in ICH-induced injury, and were euthanized at 4 hours. Naïve mice were controls. Brains were harvested for histology.

RESULTS

The number of perihematomal microglia significantly decreased 1 day after ICH, but markedly increased by days 3 and 7. Microglia death was also induced by intracerebral iron injection while microglia proliferation was found with intracerebral thrombin injection.

CONCLUSIONS

Perihematomal microglia death and proliferation after ICH are visualized in vivo with a Tmem119-EGFP transgenic mouse line. Iron and thrombin may contribute to ICH-induced microglia death and proliferation, respectively.