Phagocytic macrophage in the retina

During development many cells undergo programmed cell death. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the central nervous system. As cells die, they are detected and engulfed by infiltrating macrophages. This view shows a remarkable picture of a macrophage in the act of recognising and phagocytising such as dying cell. The small, darkly-stained nucleus reflects nuclear condensation of a dying cell and the macrophage, which has migrated from the vessels underlying the ganglion cells (out of view to the left) and has spread out to engulf its target.