From Synapses to Circuits, Astrocytes Regulate Behavior

Astrocytes are non-neuronal cells that regulate synapses, neuronal circuits, and behavior. Astrocytes ensheath neuronal synapses to form the tripartite synapse where astrocytes influence synapse formation, function, and plasticity. Beyond the synapse, recent research has revealed that astrocyte infl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers in neural circuits Vol. 15; p. 786293
Main Authors: Lyon, Krissy A., Allen, Nicola J.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 04.01.2022
Subjects:
Animals
astrocyte
Astrocytes
behavior
chemogenetic
GPCR
Mice
Neural Circuits
Neurogenesis
Neurons
optogenetic
Optogenetics
Synapses
GPCR
chemogenetic
behavior
optogenetic
astrocyte
ISSN:1662-5110, 1662-5110
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Astrocytes are non-neuronal cells that regulate synapses, neuronal circuits, and behavior. Astrocytes ensheath neuronal synapses to form the tripartite synapse where astrocytes influence synapse formation, function, and plasticity. Beyond the synapse, recent research has revealed that astrocyte influences on the nervous system extend to the modulation of neuronal circuitry and behavior. Here we review recent findings on the active role of astrocytes in behavioral modulation with a focus on in vivo studies, primarily in mice. Using tools to acutely manipulate astrocytes, such as optogenetics or chemogenetics, studies reviewed here have demonstrated a causal role for astrocytes in sleep, memory, sensorimotor behaviors, feeding, fear, anxiety, and cognitive processes like attention and behavioral flexibility. Current tools and future directions for astrocyte-specific manipulation, including methods for probing astrocyte heterogeneity, are discussed. Understanding the contribution of astrocytes to neuronal circuit activity and organismal behavior will be critical toward understanding how nervous system function gives rise to behavior.
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Reviewed by: Grant Robert Gordon, University of Calgary, Canada; Gertrudis Perea, Cajal Institute (CSIC), Spain
Edited by: Edward S. Ruthazer, McGill University, Canada
ISSN:1662-5110
1662-5110
DOI:10.3389/fncir.2021.786293