Microglia are the sole immune responding cells in the central nervous system. Their role as neuro-immune cells in the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative and infectious diseases of the brain have been extensively studied. In addition to the pathological function of microglia, recent developments in molecular probes and optical imaging in vivo have revealed that microglia are highly motile cell in the healthy brain, extending and retracting their process that extend from a largely stationary cell soma. We used in vivo two photon microscopy to reveal their physiological and pathological function on synapse and vessels. We particularly showed the functional consequence of microglial contact on synapse and vessels to indicate their role in neurological or psychiatric brain. 
In this session, we will show 1. Microglial regulation of blood brain barrier, 2. Microglial role for cross modal plasticity that indicate their pathological role in schizophrenia.