Microglial/macrophage accumulation during cuprizone-induced demyelination in C57BL/6 mice

J Neuroimmunol. 1998 Dec 1;92(1-2):38-49. doi: 10.1016/s0165-5728(98)00168-4.

Abstract

To study microglial/macrophage infiltration, a cuprizone-induced model for demyelination in C57BL/6 mice was established. Cuprizone is known to cause demyelination in Swiss mice, however, cuprizone-induced demyelination in C57BL/6 mice has not been previously described. Induction of demyelination in C57BL/6 mice enables examination of the function of microglia/macrophage through comparative analyses of syngeneic mice with various targeted genetic mutations. In this report, cuprizone-induced demyelination is easily inducible, localized, and predictable. Concurrent with the initiation of demyelination, we noted microglial/macrophage accumulation and changes in astrocyte morphology. Astrogliosis promptly followed microglia/macrophage recruitment. These observations suggested that microglia/macrophage actively contribute to the demyelination process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Astrocytes / drug effects
  • Astrocytes / pathology
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Cell Count / drug effects
  • Chelating Agents / pharmacology*
  • Copper* / metabolism
  • Corpus Callosum / drug effects
  • Corpus Callosum / pathology
  • Cuprizone / pharmacology*
  • Demyelinating Diseases / chemically induced
  • Demyelinating Diseases / pathology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / pathology
  • Macrophages / pathology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microglia / pathology*
  • Myelin Sheath / drug effects*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Chelating Agents
  • Cuprizone
  • Copper