Fig. 1

Development of microgliosis in Cx3cr1-Mfp2^−/− brain. a–e Overview pictures of Iba1⁺ cells (green) in visual cortex of control (a) and Cx3cr1-Mfp2^−/− mice (b–e) at the indicated ages and at higher magnification (f–j). k, l Quantification of microglial cells in the cortex (visual and motor cortex) and the brainstem of Cx3cr1-Mfp2^−/− mice (n = 4 mice/age) compared to control mice. Data of control mice across different ages (3, 5, 8, 12 months) is combined (n = 16 mice). m–q Gradual morphological transformation of microglia in Cx3cr1-Mfp2^−/− brain at the same ages. r–v Gene expression analysis by qRT-PCR of markers related to the proliferation of microglia in 8-month-old mice. Cx3cr1-Mfp2^−/− mice compared to control: **p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001. ns, not significant. Error bars indicate SEM. m, months. n = 4 mice/group. Representative pictures are shown