| First Author | González-Arias C | Year | 2023 |
| Journal | Mol Psychiatry | Volume | 28 |
| Issue | 9 | Pages | 3856-3873 |
| PubMed ID | 37773446 | Mgi Jnum | J:349107 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:7640266 | Doi | 10.1038/s41380-023-02269-8 |
| Citation | Gonzalez-Arias C, et al. (2023) Dysfunctional serotonergic neuron-astrocyte signaling in depressive-like states. Mol Psychiatry 28(9):3856-3873 |
| abstractText | Astrocytes play crucial roles in brain homeostasis and are regulatory elements of neuronal and synaptic physiology. Astrocytic alterations have been found in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) patients; however, the consequences of astrocyte Ca(2+) signaling in MDD are poorly understood. Here, we found that corticosterone-treated juvenile mice (Cort-mice) showed altered astrocytic Ca(2+) dynamics in mPFC both in resting conditions and during social interactions, in line with altered mice behavior. Additionally, Cort-mice displayed reduced serotonin (5-HT)-mediated Ca(2+) signaling in mPFC astrocytes, and aberrant 5-HT-driven synaptic plasticity in layer 2/3 mPFC neurons. Downregulation of astrocyte Ca(2+) signaling in naive animals mimicked the synaptic deficits found in Cort-mice. Remarkably, boosting astrocyte Ca(2+) signaling with Gq-DREADDS restored to the control levels mood and cognitive abilities in Cort-mice. This study highlights the important role of astrocyte Ca(2+) signaling for homeostatic control of brain circuits and behavior, but also reveals its potential therapeutic value for depressive-like states. |
