Anxiety control by astrocytes in the lateral habenula

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Wanqin Tan
  • Yoko Ikoma
  • Yusuke Takahashi
  • Ayumu Konno
  • Hirokazu Hirai
  • Hirase, Hajime
  • Ko Matsui

The potential role of astrocytes in lateral habenula (LHb) in modulating anxiety was explored in this study. The habenula are a pair of small nuclei located above the thalamus, known for their involvement in punishment avoidance and anxiety. Herein, we observed an increase in theta-band oscillations of local field potentials (LFPs) in the LHb when mice were exposed to anxiety-inducing environments. Electrical stimulation of LHb at theta-band frequency promoted anxiety-like behavior. Calcium (Ca2+) levels and pH in the cytosol of astrocytes and local brain blood volume changes were studied in mice expressing either a Ca2+ or a pH sensor protein specifically in astrocytes and mScarlet fluorescent protein in the blood plasma using fiber photometry. An acidification response to anxiety was observed. Photoactivation of archaerhopsin-T (ArchT), an optogenetic tool that acts as an outward proton pump, results in intracellular alkalinization. Photostimulation of LHb in astrocyte-specific ArchT-expressing mice resulted in dissipation of theta-band LFP oscillation in an anxiogenic environment and suppression of anxiety-like behavior. These findings provide evidence that LHb astrocytes modulate anxiety and may offer a new target for treatment of anxiety disorders.

Original languageEnglish
JournalNeuroscience Research
ISSN0168-0102
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors

    Research areas

  • Anxiety, Astrocyte, Cytosolic pH, Fiber photometry, Habenula, Local brain environment, Optogenetics, Theta band LFP

ID: 383429736