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Microglia Sculpt Postnatal Neural Circuits in an Activity and Complement-Dependent Manner
Dorothy P. Schafer, Emily K. Lehrman, Amanda G. Kautzman, Ryuta Koyama, Alan R. Mardinly, Ryo Yamasaki, Richard M. Ransohoff, Michael E. Greenberg, Ben A. Barres, Beth A. Stevens. Neuron, 2012-05-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
This study investigated the role of microglia in remodeling synapses within the developing brain. The researchers demonstrated that microglia are involved in activity-dependent synaptic pruning by engulfing presynaptic inputs. They found that this engulfment depends on neural activity and a specific phagocytic signaling pathway, and that disrupting this pathway results in lasting deficits in synaptic connectivity.
Key findings
- Microglia engulf presynaptic inputs during peak retinogeniculate pruning
- Engulfment is dependent upon neural activity and the microglia-specific phagocytic signaling pathway, complement receptor 3(CR3)/C3
- Disrupting microglia-specific CR3/C3 signaling resulted in sustained deficits in synaptic connectivity
Why it matters
Reports that microglia shape neural circuits after birth in a way that depends on neural activity and the complement system.
How this study scored 59/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on strength of evidence, so that was left out: it earned 56 of the 95 points we could judge it on, which is 59 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neuron) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neuron: journal h-index 689 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | — / 5 | No evidence rating recorded — left out of this score |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2012 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 7 / 7 | Cited 4,090 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 255.6 citations a year over 16 year(s) since 2012 |
| Impact for its field and year | 6 / 6 | Cited 64.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 4 / 4 | Cited 1,081 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Beth A. Stevens: h-index 78 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 22632727) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 56 / 95 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 56 of the 95 points we could judge it on is 59 out of 100. |
| Total | 59 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 10 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Schafer, D. P., Lehrman, E. K., Kautzman, A. G., Koyama, R., Mardinly, A. R., Yamasaki, R., et al. (2012). Microglia Sculpt Postnatal Neural Circuits in an Activity and Complement-Dependent Manner. Neuron. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2012.03.026
Vancouver
Schafer DP, Lehrman EK, Kautzman AG, Koyama R, Mardinly AR, Yamasaki R, et al. Microglia Sculpt Postnatal Neural Circuits in an Activity and Complement-Dependent Manner. Neuron. 2012. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2012.03.026. PMID: 22632727.
BibTeX
@article{schafer2012-22632727,
author = {Schafer, Dorothy P. and Lehrman, Emily K. and Kautzman, Amanda G. and Koyama, Ryuta and Mardinly, Alan R. and Yamasaki, Ryo and Ransohoff, Richard M. and Greenberg, Michael E. and Barres, Ben A. and Stevens, Beth A.},
title = {{Microglia Sculpt Postnatal Neural Circuits in an Activity and Complement-Dependent Manner}},
journal = {Neuron},
year = {2012},
doi = {10.1016/j.neuron.2012.03.026},
pmid = {22632727},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2012.03.026}
}
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