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. 2014 Jul 22;5:4486. doi: 10.1038/ncomms5486

Figure 2. 3D-EM reveals axosomatic synaptic displacement by activated microglia.

Figure 2

(a) Electron micrograph of a microglia (‘M’) closely apposing part of a neuronal soma (‘N’) 24 h after the final LPS injection. Arrowheads indicate axosomatic inhibitory synapses. A region of interest is outlined in the box in a and serial sections of this region are shown in b. Scale bar, 1 μm. (b) In these serial EM sections, the leading edge of the microglial process (blue) partially displaces the presynaptic terminal (red), while the remainder of this terminal retains a normal synaptic cleft with the neuronal perikarya (yellow). Pairs of arrowheads indicate close contact between the microglia, the neuron and the synaptic terminal. (c) 3D reconstruction of the serial images shown in b. (d) Representative electron micrographs of motor cortex neuropil from PBS- and LPS-injected mice. Arrows point to asymmetric excitatory synapses. Scale bar, 1 μm. (e) The densities of asymmetrical excitatory synapses were similar in the motor cortices from PBS- and LPS-injected mice. NS, not significant; t-test.