Biotechnologia Acta

The aim of the work was to investigate the effect of the intracranial catheter placement on the metabolic profile of rat microglia. Microglial cells were isolated by the centrifugation in Percoll gradient. Oxidative metabolism and phagocytic activity were investigated by flow cytometry. Arginase activity was examined by colorimetric method. Nitrite level was assayed in Griess reaction. It was found that intracranial catheter placement caused down-regulation of nitrite synthesis by 3 times, augmentation of the reactive oxygen species generation by 1.5 times, and slightly decreased microglia phagocytic activity. Thus, intracranial catheter placement causes long term anti-inflammatory shift of microglia metabolism in rats.