Abstract P201: Negative Regulation Of PVN Pre-sympathetic Neuronal Activity By Resident Microglia

Hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) is a critical integrating region in controlling peripheral sympathetic tonicity. While the vast studies have unraveled the regulatory circuits affecting PVN pre-sympathetic neurons, local factors for maintaining the homeostasis of neuronal excitability are barely understood. In the present study we investigated the role of microglia, the primary resident immune cells of the CNS, in this context. By electrophysiological recording, we found that loss of resident microglia induced an increased firing frequency and attenuated outward potassium currents in the PVN pre-sympathetic neurons, tachycardia and impaired heart rate variability. Combining the transcriptomics analysis of the PVN microglia, we identified a releasable factor, which was dominantly expressed in microglia compared to other brain parenchymal cells. ICV infusion of the recombinant peptide restored potassium currents in the PVN pre-sympathetic neurons and autonomic function in microglia-depleted mice. In summary, our results provided a novel intrinsic regulatory mechanism by which microglia suppress neuronal over excitation in physiological condition.