Microglia contribute to the postnatal development of cortical somatostatin-positive inhibitory cells and to whisker-evoked cortical activity

Lorenzo Gesuita, Anna Cavaccini, Ali Özgür Argunsah, Emilia Favuzzi, Leena Ali Ibrahim, Tevye Jason Stachniak, Martina De Gennaro, Sebastian Utz, Melanie Greter, Theofanis Karayannis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Microglia play a key role in shaping the formation and refinement of the excitatory network of the brain. However, less is known about whether and how they organize the development of distinct inhibitory networks. We find that microglia are essential for the proper development of somatostatin-positive (SST+) cell synapses during the second postnatal week. We further identify a pair of molecules that act antagonistically to one another in the organization of SST+ cell axonal elaboration. Whereas CX3CL1 acts to suppress axonal growth and complexity, CXCL12 promotes it. Assessing the functional importance of microglia in the development of cortical activity, we find that a whisker stimulation paradigm that drives SST+ cell activation leads to reduced cortical spiking in brains depleted of microglia. Collectively, our data demonstrate an important role of microglia in regulating the development of SST+ cell output early in life.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)111209
JournalCell Reports
Volume40
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 16 2022

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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