Long-term Microglial Phase-specific Dynamics During Single Vessel Occlusion and Recanalization

Abstract

Vascular occlusion leading to brain dysfunctions is usually considered evoking microglia-induced inflammation response. However, it remains unclear how microglia interact with blood vessels in the development of vascular occlusion-related brain disorders. Here, we illuminate long-term spatiotemporal dynamics of microglia and their activation pattern during single vessel occlusion and recanalization. The results show that microglia display remarkable response characteristics in different phases, including acute reaction, rapid diffusion, transition and chronic effect. Microglial cell body represents a unique filament-shape migration and has slower motility compared to the immediate reaction of processes to occlusion. We capture single microglia with few processes moves out of the cluster and redistributes territory with increasing ramified processes. Microglial cluster resolves gradually until microglial number and morphology become stabilized. Therefore, our study offers a comprehensive analysis of spatiotemporal dynamics of microglia to both vessel occlusion and recanalization. Microglial phase-specific response suggests the morphological feature-oriented phased intervention would be an attractive option for vascular occlusion-related diseases treatments.