Summary
Employing a novel video-enhanced contrast-differential interference contrast (VEC-DIC) microscope with a mercury light source, the process of microglial cell death after phagocytosis of zymosan-A was examined for its morphological changes, especially of the nucleus. The materials used were microglia (exp. n = 15) isolated from the newborn rat brain. Zymosan-A was introduced into the chamber on the stage of the microscope where the microglia were being observed. Aggregates of zymosan-A became partially or totally engulfed by the microglia. At ca. 10–30min of phagocytosis, the microglia began to swell, with ballooning of the cell membrane, and then burst. The cell body changes in terms of the circumferential length were: 84.38µm in the control and 141.71µm at the time of bursting (p < 0.05). Those in the area of the cell body were: 36.43µm2 in the control and 47.92µm2 at the time of bursting (p < 0.05). The average dimensional changes of the nucleus (n = 5, where the nuclear changes could be followed) in the control, at the time before bursting, after bursting, and at 10 min after bursting were 7.45, 7.32, 7.25, respectively, and 7.01µm for the long axis, and 6.53, 6.13, 6.81, respectively, and 6.55µm for the short axis. The minimal change in nuclear size together with swelling/dissolution of the plasma membrane suggests that the self-inflicted cell death triggered by zymosan-A, and possibly facilitated by the UV light, might result from necrosis due to self-inflicted effects of autogenous toxic substances. However, the findings were not conclusive since chromatin condensation with cell shrinkage was observed in some cases, suggestive of apoptosis.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Giulian D (1987) Ameboid microglia as effectors of inflammation in the central nervous system. J Neurosci Res 18: 155–171
Haapaniemi H, Tomita M, Tanahashi N, Takeda H, Yokoyama M, Fukuuchi Y (1995) Nonamoeboid locomotion of cultured microglia obtained from newborn rat brain. Neurosci Lett 193: 121–124
Nakajima K, Hamanoue M, Shimojo M, Takei N, Kohsaka S (1989) Characterization of microglia isolated from a primary culture of embryonic rat brain by a simplified method. Biomed Res 10 [Suppl 3]: 411–423
Squier MKT, Sehnert AJ, Cohen J (1995) Apoptosis in leukocytes. J Leukoc Biol 57: 2–10
Terakawa S, Fan IH, Kumakura K, Ohara-Imaizumi M (1991) Quantitative analysis of exocytosis directly visualized in bovine chromaffin cells by videoenhanced light microscopy. Neurosci Lett 123: 82–86
Tomita M, Fukuuchi Y, Tanahashi N, Kobari M, Takeda H, Yokoyama M, Ito D, Terakawa S (1996) Swift transformation and locomotion of PMNL and microglia as observed by VEC-DIC microscopy (video microscopy). Keio J Med 45 (3): 213–224
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1997 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Tomita, M. et al. (1997). Microglial Cell Death Following Phagocytosis of Zymosan-A Under a Video-Enhanced Contrast — Differential Interference Contrast Microscope: Does This Include Apoptosis?. In: Ito, U., Kirino, T., Kuroiwa, T., Klatzo, I. (eds) Maturation Phenomenon in Cerebral Ischemia II. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-60546-8_25
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-60546-8_25
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-61673-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-60546-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive