Fig. 4

Microglial depletion at the late pathological stage of etomidate injection mice insignificantly influences cognitive, neuronal, and glial dysfunction in the late pathological stage (3 weeks post etomidate injection and 2 weeks post PLX3397 diet). a Graphic illustration of experimental procedure. b Flow cytometry were applied to analyze the efficiency of microglial elimination in hippocampus after PLX3397 treatment. c Selected transcripts associated with microglial polarization (microglial phenotype of M1, M2a, and M2b,2c) were detected by qPCR. During MWM test, we recorded swim path (d) and analyzed swim speed and latency to find platform (e) during visible and hidden platform training; (f) swim path and (g) time spent in each quadrant was investigated. h During NOR test, total time spent on object recognition and discrimination index were analyzed. Neuronal activities were detected by (i and j) sIPSC, sEPSC, (k and l) mIPSC, and mEPSC recording and analyzing (scale bar: 200 ms, 25 pA). Selected transcripts associated with astrocyte activation (Pan-reactive, A1-specific, and A2-specific phenotype; m and n) were detected by qPCR. (n = 11-12 per group for behavioral and electrophysiological assay; n = 3 for qPCR assay; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 compared with normal diet mice)