Fig. 5: Microglia in male Cntnap2 KO mice show an altered morphology compared to those in male WT mice, with no differences between female WT and KO mice. | Communications Biology

Fig. 5: Microglia in male Cntnap2 KO mice show an altered morphology compared to those in male WT mice, with no differences between female WT and KO mice.

From: Sexual dimorphism in the social behaviour of Cntnap2-null mice correlates with disrupted synaptic connectivity and increased microglial activity in the anterior cingulate cortex

Fig. 5

Microglial morphologies were investigated in layer 1 of the ACC of WT and Cntnap2 KO male and female mice at different ages. a Representative images of microglial surfaces reproduced in Imaris. b Total number of microglial branch points. At both P8 and P14, male KOs had significantly fewer branch points in their processes than WT mice. There were no differences in the female populations. c Total dendritic length of all processes. At P8, male KOs had significantly reduced total lengths of microglial processes compared to WT mice. There were no differences in the female populations. d Number of microglial primary processes. At both P8 and P14, male KOs had significantly fewer primary processes than WT mice. There were no differences in the female populations. e Total microglial volume. There were no differences in the male or female populations. For all microglial morphology experiments, n = 4 for KO, and n = 4 for WT, for each timepoint and sex. Three to four slices were analysed per mouse. Statistical analysis for (b–f) was performed using three-way ANOVA. For microglial cell density the data is presented by sex in individual charts to reduce complexity. f qPCR analysis shows an increased expression of the microglial phagocytosis receptor P2Y6 in male KO mice compared to male WT mice. Large dots represent results from three independent qPCR experiments in which all four conditions (male and female, WT and KO) were analysed in parallel (on the same 96-well plate). The small dot represents individual results from 5 to 6 independent brain preparations of the dPFC of P14 mice (see also 'Methods'). Statistical analysis for (f) was performed using two-way ANOVA. Scale bar in (a) = 10 μm. Symbols above the bars represent an overall effect of genotype (*), sex (+), age (†) or interaction (#), while symbols below the chart represent Tukey’s post hoc significance between WT and Cntnap2 KO (*). In each case 1, 2 or 3 symbols represent P < 0.05, P < 0.01, or P < 0.001. Data presented as means, error bars represent SEM. Microglia images from Biorender.

Back to article page