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Microglia Density Decreases In The Rat Rostral Nucleus Of The Solitary Tract Across Development And Increases In An Age-Dependent Manner Following Denervation, Andrew J. Riquier, Suzanne I. Sollars

Psychology Faculty Publications

immune response to injury, and are implicated in facilitating neural plasticity. The rodent gustatory system is highly plastic, particularly during development, and outcomes following nerve injury are more severe in developing animals. The mechanisms underlying developmental plasticity in the taste system are largely unknown, making microglia an attractive candidate. To better elucidate microglia’s role in the taste system, we examined these cells in the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract (rNTS) during normal development and following transection of the chorda tympani taste nerve (CTX). Rats aged 5, 10, 25, or 50 days received unilateral CTX or no surgery and were …