
Microglia
Microglial cells function as macrophages in the CNS. They are normally inactive, displaying flat, heterochromatic nuclei and numerous thin, branching processes (left). Trauma or infection causes these cells to enlarge as they actively become phagocytic and participate in the inflammatory process (right). These sections are immunostained for a macrophage-specific protein. 400x

Microglia
Microglial cells function as macrophages in the CNS. They are normally inactive, displaying flat, heterochromatic nuclei and numerous thin, branching processes (left). Trauma or infection causes these cells to enlarge as they actively become phagocytic and participate in the inflammatory process (right). These sections are immunostained for a macrophage-specific protein. 400x

Cell bodies
Microglial cells function as macrophages in the CNS. They are normally inactive, displaying flat, heterochromatic nuclei and numerous thin, branching processes (left). Trauma or infection causes these cells to enlarge as they actively become phagocytic and participate in the inflammatory process (right). These sections are immunostained for a macrophage-specific protein. 400x