Inhibition of Posttraumatic Microglial Proliferation in a Genetic Model of Macrophage Colony‐Stimulating Factor Deficiency in the Mouse

Abstract

Activation and proliferation of microglia are common cellular hallmarks in many different pathological processes of the central nervous system. Although a number of colony-stimulating factors enhance microglial proliferation in vitro, little is known about the endogenous mitogens. In the present study we show a strong and selective inhibition of microglial proliferation in the facial nucleus of osteopetrotic (op/op) mice, with a genetic deficiency in biologically active macrophage colony-stimulating factor (MCSF). Posttraumatic activation of adjacent axotomized neurons and reactive astrocytes was not affected, emphasizing the specificity of MCSF as a microglial growth factor.