Unveiling Microglia: Exploring Morphological and Functional Responses to Non-invasive Brain Stimulation and Chronic Stress
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Gajelli, Tarini D.
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In the face of escalating global stressors, there is a growing concern for the prevalence of stress-related pathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and major depression. Chronic stress triggers neuronal atrophy, with microglia, the brain's immune cells, implicated in stress-induced synaptic pruning. Our study explores the protective effects of non-invasive audiovisual flicker, specifically at 10 Hz for males and 40 Hz for females, against stress-induced neuronal remodeling. Using a chronic unpredictable stress model, we examined microglia morphology and neuron-glia contact in the prefrontal cortex. Results reveal sex-specific responses to morphology, with 10 Hz influencing male microglia spread and 40 Hz affecting female microglia spread. However, there were no changes to neuron-glia contacts in both sexes due to stress or flicker. This nuanced relationship between chronic stress, audiovisual flicker, and microglial dynamics highlights potential therapeutic avenues for stress-related disorders, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions tailored to sex-specific microglial activity.
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Undergraduate Thesis