The origin of microglial cells.

The rat brain has been studied between 6 hours after birth and 100 days, using histochemical techniques for acid phosphatase and peroxidase, and silver impregnation for microglial cells. The results indicate that microglia come initially from acid phosphatase-positive cells of the meninges. These invade the nervous parenchyma and transform into ramified microglia. At 3 days of age similar cells are present on the outer surface of the large blood vessels, from which site they migrate into the nervous parenchyma. In 100 days old rats the acid phosphatase-positive cells are practically all pericytes. None of the microglial cells or their precursors give a positive reaction for peroxidase.