Microglia cells are resident immune cells within the brain. These cells are responsible for ensuring homeostasis for the neurons and preventing damage from foreign bodies. It has been shown that microglia cells in men and women differ, which could translate to sex differentiation. More importantly, microglia activation varies with sexes possibly contributing to gender differences in the ability to cope with stress. The use of injections to administer treatment to rodents to evaluate the effects via microglia activation has been a commonly used method to introduce exogenous components like medicine, but the actual injection itself could be causing an activation effect that could interfere with successful experimentation. To be able to continue a binge drinking pilot study, it first needs to be determined that the injection itself isn't causing increased stress response to the point that the microglia activation from alcohol or saline could not be deciphered. Staining microglia cells with Iba-1 during Immunohistochemistry was used to quantify microglia density, as well as soma size correlating to increased activation. It is hypothesized that there will be no difference between the saline injected and baseline mice.

Importance of microglial activation in sex differences and their neurological effects on stress response and viable controls

2019 Spring National Meeting

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