Reactive Changes of Rat Spinal Cord Microgliocytes after Acute Systemic Inflammation

Abstract

It is widely known that neuroinflammation is a key factor in the development of many neurological pathologies and neurodegenerative diseases. The dynamics of development and duration of neuroinflammatory responses are critical aspects in understanding the patterns of physiological, biochemical and behavioral consequences. The most common object of study is neuroinflammation that develops after experimental systemic inflammation. The effect of acute systemic inflammation on brain microgliocytes has been studied extensively, while spinal cord microglia have been studied less frequently. The purpose of this study was to assess the topographic and temporal features of morphofunctional changes in rat spinal cord microglial cells after experimental LPS-induced systemic inflammation. It has been established that in the early stages of neuroinflammation (24 hours after LPS administration), microgliocytes are activated in the ventral white and ventral gray matter of the spinal cord. At the same time, microgliocytes of the dorsal part of the spinal cord do not show morphological attribute of activation. An increase in the population density of microgliocytes in the ventral funiculus of the spinal cord was noted. Accumulations (aggregates) of reactive microgliocytes were also found in this area.