Microglia scoop out garbage from inside neurons

Microglia are professional phagocytes, surveying the brain and cleaning up neuronal debris, damaged proteins and other biomolecules. The cells can also make contact with axons to scoop out large organelles containing degraded proteins, a new preprint shows.

The study reveals a novel exit route for debris that neurons could call upon when needed, says Ralph Nixon , professor of psychiatry and cell biology at New York University, who was not involved in the work.