• Question: Can white blood cells connect with the brain?

    Asked by malena.alonso to Sian, Max, Ben on 8 Mar 2018.
    • Photo: Ben Mulhearn

      Ben Mulhearn answered on 8 Mar 2018:

      Wow! Really REALLY great question. White blood cells can be found in the brain, however they are in lower numbers than elsewhere. About 10 % of the brain is made up of cells called MICROGLIA, these are actually a type of immune cell similar to macrophages (this word just means big-eaters) which help to support the nerve cells. Finally, there are nerves (such as the vagal nerve) which go all over the body, including the spleen) and recent research has even found parts of the vagus nerve communicating directly with immune cells in the spleen – amazing!

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