Current literature states that during apoptosis of microglial cells, the cell body can decrease in size, membrane blebbing can occur, and measures such as nuclear condensation, fragmentation can be observed.
I am wondering, during the apoptotic process (particularly early apoptosis) what the state of the microglial processes are in. Are any distinct morphology changes observed in contrast to non-apoptotic microglia? I have looked for some literature (hoping to find some cell reconstructions to answer this), however have not come across any or have missed it.
Any ideas?
Hello, Kristie.
I absolutely agree with you in that cell morphology published does not give any concrete picture of how to differentiate live, dying, and dead cells until they show final signs of apoptotic phenomenon. I have experience only with BV-2 microglia cell line.
I suggest that if you have any cell line, treating with H2O2 or LPS, and observing, recording and staining with trypan blue and recording the images in time-course manner will give a clear idea until they all dead (~72h, replacing H2O2 and LPS at 48h). This will give you a sound reference for early and mid or late cell death in both quantitative and morphological ways.
Good luck.
In addition to Sang Ho Lee's answer, you could also stain for cleaved PARP. You should see this early during apoptosis and it would let you distinguish apoptotic cells from non-apoptotic cells through other means than morphology. Based on timing, you could then determine whether there is a difference in the microglial processes. Good luck!
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