Highly motile brain macrophages/microglial cells were observed in the
cingulum and supraventricular corpus callosum, an area termed by del R
io-Hortega the ''fountain of microglia.'' This is the first study that
uses time lapse video microscopy in acute cortical brain slices to an
alyze directly the motile and phagocytic behaviour of these cells. The
cells migrated within minutes to the slice surface and actively scree
ned their surrounding with velum-like processes. Dead/damaged cells on
the slice surface were contacted by the processes and phagozytozed wi
thin minutes. A method to add red blood cells in a defined density was
used to observe the phagocytosis. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.