Microglia of the Brain: Origin, Structure, Functions

Abstract

The review summarizes data on microglyocytes in the brain of mammals. General characteristics and features of their structure, functions and molecular organization at different ontogenetic stages are addressed. A special focus is on various hypotheses of the origin of microglia and current ideas about the involvement of microglyocytes in the regulation of neurogenesis and neuroinflammation. The data of recent experimental studies on toxic effects on microglia are critically analyzed. We point out the prospects for using the methods of selective microglia depletion (replacement) in modeling neuropathologies. This approach is supposed to enable assessment of the microglial contribution to the development of adaptive and neurodegenerative processes.