INHIBITION OF POSTTRAUMATIC MICROGLIAL PROLIFERATION IN A GENETIC MODEL OF MACROPHAGE-COLONY-STIMULATING FACTOR DEFICIENCY IN THE MOUSE

Activation and proliferation of microglia are common cellular hallmark s in many different pathological processes of the central nervous syst em. Although a number of colony-stimulating factors enhance microglial proliferation in vitro, little is known about the endogenous mitogens . In the present study we show a strong and selective inhibition of mi croglial proliferation in the facial nucleus of osteopetrotic (op/op) mice, with a genetic deficiency in biologically active macrophage colo ny-stimulating factor (MCSF). Posttraumatic activation of adjacent axo tomized neurons and reactive astrocytes was not affected, emphasizing the specificity of MCSF as a microglial growth factor.