Specific uptake of intracranial horseradish peroxidase (HRP) by microglial cells in the goldfish

The isolation and culture of microglia-like cells from the goldfish brain

We have developed a method for isolating goldfish microglia. Cells were identified as microglia immunohistochemically with NN-2, a monoclonal antibody (MAb) raised against teleost retinal microglial cells, and by their phagocytic abilities. Morphological characterization of the cells identified round, phase-bright cells as well as flattened macrophage-like cells. Ramified cells were also seen but they were rare. Fusion of macrophage-like cells occurred in high density cultures and resulted in the formation of giant cells that disintegrated a few days later. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that virtually all of the cells in our cultures were NN-2+ and did not label with either antiGFAP (an astrocyte marker) or MAb 6D2 (an oligodendrocyte marker). Cells identified as microglia were intensely phagocytic and ingested latex microspheres, DiIAcLDL and goldfish myelin in vitro. In addition, we labelled microglial cells in vivo with intracranial injections of fluorescent dextran and found that microglia isolated from these animals contained the dextran and phagocytosed microspheres. We also studied the effect of myelin on microsphere uptake and compared the effect of myelin and opsonized myelin on the phagocytic activity of the cells. Our results showed a clear increase in the phagocytic activity of microglia when incubated with myelin, with an enhanced effect of opsonized myelin.

The source of reactive cells during central Wallerian degeneration in the goldfish: a differential irradiation protocol

We have used a partial irradiation paradigm to examine the provenance of cells that participate in Wallerian cellular responses in the goldfish visual system. Animals which received 50 Gy whole-body gamma-irradiation showed virtually complete inhibition of the proliferative burst usually seen after optic nerve section. These animals did, however, show a robust hyperplastic response in the optic tract that we believe represents the migration of nearby microglial cells into the affected tract. When only the postcephalic body was irradiated, proliferating cells in the major hematopoietic organs of the fish, the kidney and pronephros, were substantially inhibited. Despite this, the Wallerian cellular response in the visual paths was essentially normal. Thus, there is no obligate requirement for peripheral proliferative cells to participate in central Wallerian degeneration in the fish. However, when only the head was irradiated, and the hematopoietic organs were spared, there was a proliferative response in the visual system. We believe this represents the invasion of the visual pathways by peripheral blood cells through the optic nerve lesion and blood vessels in the nerve itself. This invasion, however, is not sufficient to generate substantial hyperplasia. In summary, although we find evidence for a small contribution by exogenous cells, the major source of reactive cells during central Wallerian degeneration in the fish is the endogenous microglia. Our data underscore the importance of elucidating the mechanisms by which microglial cells are activated and the role that they play in regeneration.

Regenerating descending axons preferentially reroute to the gray matter in the presence of a general macrophage/microglial reaction caudal to a spinal transection in adult zebrafish

We analyzed pathway choices of regenerating, mostly supraspinal, descending axons in the spinal cord of adult zebrafish and the cellular changes in the spinal cord caudal to a lesion site after complete spinal transection. Anterograde tracing (by application of the tracer rostral to the spinal lesion site) showed that significantly more descending axons (74%) regenerated in the spinal gray matter of the caudal spinal cord than would be expected from random growth. Retrograde tracing (by application of the tracer caudal to the spinal lesion site) showed that, rostral to the lesion, most of these axons (80%) extended into the major white matter tracts. Thus, ventral descending tracts often were devoid of labeled axons caudal to a spinal lesion but contained many axons rostral to the lesion in the same animals, indicating a pathway switch of descending axons from the white matter to the gray matter. Ascending axons of spinal neurons were not observed regrowing to the rostral tracer application site; therefore, they most likely did not contribute to the axonal populations analyzed. A macrophage/microglia response within 2 days of spinal cord transection, along with phagocytosis of myelin, was observed caudal to the transection by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Nevertheless, caudal to the lesion, descending tracts in the white matter were filled with myelin debris during the time of axonal regrowth, at least up to 6 weeks postlesion. We suggest that the spontaneous regeneration of axons of supraspinal origin after spinal cord transection in adult zebrafish may be due in part to the axons' ability to negotiate novel pathways in the spinal cord gray matter.

Mononuclear cell proliferation and hyperplasia during Wallerian degeneration in the visual system of the goldfish in the presence or absence of regenerating optic axons

Patterns of proliferation and changes in non-neuronal cell number in the visual system of the goldfish have been quantitatively examined during optic axon regeneration after an optic nerve crush (ONC). In addition, in order to examine the effect of the regenerating axons on cellular responses in the visual pathways, we did a similar analysis of animals with the right eye removed (ER). Finally, we used double labeling protocols to demonstrate that the proliferating cells that we were counting were mostly phagocytic cells of the mononuclear lineage. In animals with an ONC, we observed an early burst of proliferation that peaked between 7 and 14 days after surgery in all parts of the visual system. In the optic tract, there was also a secondary rise that peaked at 21 days. Levels of proliferation returned to normal by 32 days postoperative in the tract and tectum, while they remained somewhat elevated in the optic nerve for at least 93 days. The total number of non-neuronal cells in the visual paths also rose to peak values between 7 and 14 days after ONC surgery. In the optic tract and tectum, the values fell rapidly after this time, while in the optic nerve, there was a secondary peak at 32 days after which values remained elevated for the duration of the experiment. As compared to animals with an ONC, enucleation resulted in elevated proliferation and hyperplasia at early postoperative intervals. However, because these differences occurred when axons had not yet regenerated into the affected structures, these data do not provide strong evidence for a direct effect of regenerating optic axons on the early cellular responses during Wallerian degeneration in the goldfish. In addition, in the tectum, there was an early increment in cell number that was not associated with elevated levels of proliferation. We believe that this increment represents immigration of resident microglia from other regions of the brain.