Figure 1. Schematic drawing of important functions of microglia during development of the central nervous system.

In the upper blue area, the contribution of microglia to neurogenesis and synaptogenesis is depicted, including neuronal differentiation and elimination of apoptotic neurons, neuronal migration and axonal growth. The blue arrow indicates the direction of neuronal development. In the middle green area, the contribution of microglia to astrocytogenesis and oligodendrocytogenesis is depicted. In the lower red area, the contribution of microglia to angiogenesis is depicted.