Topic: Gq-DREADD

Activation of microglia by inflammation or chronic disease has profound effects on neurons and synapses. The details of this communication between the immune system and the brain are under active investigation. Common strategies to activate microglia, such as lipopolysaccharide injection or experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) primarily activate the peripheral immune system, triggering a complex and protracted response of the whole organism. In order to activate microglia selectively and with precise timing, we used chemogenetic activation of a Gq-DREADD expressed exclusively in mic