Fig. 2.

Genetic microglia ablation leads to substantial loss of CSF/ventricular spaces in vivo. A Experimental timeline for genetic microglia ablation and MRI quantification. B T2-Weighted MRI revealed substantial loss of CSF and lateral ventricular (red arrow) and 3rd ventricular (green arrow) spaces in both female and male microglia ablated mice (Cx3cr1-iDTR, Columns 3 and 4) and the iDTR mice (Columns 5 and 6) after Dtx, whereas Cx3cr1CreER positive but iDTR negative (Cx3cr1-Cre) mice were not affected by TAM and Dtx treatment (Columns 1 and 2). C MRI image-based quantification of the ventricular volume in Cx3cr1-Cre, Cx3cr1-iDTR or iDTR mice using serial coronal sections of T2-weighted MRI before and after 3 days of Dtx treatment. D, E, F, Forebrain sections of Cx3cr1-Cre, Cx3cr1-iDTR or iDTR mice subjected to Dtx treatment (red arrow indicating lateral ventricle). Scale bar = 100 μm. G histological sections from 3 representative coronal brain sections were used to quantify ventricle areas in the three groups of mice. Consistent with MRI-based quantification, quantification of brain sections shows decreased ventricular/CSF volume in genetic microglia ablated mice (Cx3cr1-iDTR) and the iDTR mice after 3 days Dtx treatment. (Mean ± SEM, ** and *** indicates p < 0.01 and 0.001 respectively, Two-way ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc analysis). Quantification result is from one cohort of mice with similar results observed from > 2 other independent experiments