Electrified microglia: Impact of direct current stimulation on diverse properties of the most versatile brain cell

BackgroundTranscranial direct current stimulation [(t)DCS], modulates cortical excitability and promotes neuroplasticity. Microglia has been identified to respond electrical currents as well neuronal activity, but its response DCS is mostly unknown.ObjectiveThis study addresses effects of applied in vivo the sensorimotor cortex on physiological microglia properties neuron-microglia communication.MethodsTime lapse 2-photon microscopy anaesthetized mice was timely coupled with observe dynamics a population-based single cell level. Neuron-microglia communication during investigated functional knock out fractalkine receptor CX3CR1. Moreover, role voltage gated microglial channels phagocytosis were studied.ResultsDCS promoted several properties, depending glial activation state intensity. On level, process motility predominantly enhanced ramified cells whereas horizontal soma movement galvanotaxis pronounced reactive microglia. Blockage sensitive suppressed vitro. Microglial changes partially driven by signaling pathway. increased after vitro.ConclusionMicroglia are rapidly influenced DCS. This first demonstration effect indirect potentially activity via