Localization of microglia in the human fetal cervical spinal cord

Kenneth D. Hutchins, Dennis W. Dickson, William K. Rashbaum, William D. Lyman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Differential morphologic subtypes of microglia have been identified in the human fetal frontal cerebrum using a lectin, Ricinus communis agglutinin 1 (RCA-1), and a monoclonal antibody, EBM-11. In this report, microglia were characterized in the human fetal cervical spinal cord. RCA-1-positive microglia were ramified in the developing gray matter while in the developing white matter they had a less differentiated (ameboid) appearance. EBM-11, a monoclonal antibody that recognizes CD68 on human macrophages, and microglia labeled only ameboid-type microglia in the developing white matter. This suggests that distinct subpopulations of microglia exist, which may represent different stages in microglial development, and that CD68 may be a differentiation marker for less mature forms. Therefore, cytologically less differentiated forms of microglia appear to be associated with myelination.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)270-273
Number of pages4
JournalDevelopmental Brain Research
Volume66
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 24 1992

Keywords

  • EBM-11
  • Human spinal cord
  • Microglia
  • RCA-1 lectin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Localization of microglia in the human fetal cervical spinal cord'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this