REVIEW article

Front. Neural Circuits, 04 January 2022

Volume 15 - 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fncir.2021.786293

From Synapses to Circuits, Astrocytes Regulate Behavior

  • Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, United States

Abstract

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.

Introduction

A major goal in neuroscience is to understand how neuronal circuitry maps onto specific physiological functions and behaviors. Neural circuits are recognized as the basis of nervous system function, therefore neuroscience research has largely focused on neurons from the level of the synapse to brain-wide circuits (). Yet, the contributions of astrocytes, key players in brain function, have long been overlooked. Astrocytes are glial cells that tile throughout the brain ensheathing neuronal synapses to form the “tripartite synapse,” in which neurons and astrocytes bidirectionally communicate (; ). The functions of astrocytes at the synapse include clearance of excess neurotransmitter, maintenance of ion homeostasis, and release of neuroactive factors influencing synapse development and function (; ; ). Bidirectional astrocyte-neuron communication includes astrocyte response to synaptic activity via neurotransmitter receptors (; ) and astrocytic release of factors. Unlike neurons, astrocytes do not fire action potentials, but are capable of release of gliotransmitters (; ; ; ; ; ; ) such as ATP (; ) and D-serine (; ; ) which can modulate neuronal activity. While the importance of astrocytes for proper synapse formation, function, and plasticity is now appreciated (; ; ; ; ), many questions remain about the capacity of astrocytes to influence behavior.

In this review, we will focus on recent findings of astrocyte influence on behavior including sleep, memory, sensorimotor activity, feeding behavior, fear, anxiety, and additional cognitive processes. Prior to the advent of optogenetic and chemogenetic tools, the study of astrocyte regulation of behavior was hindered by the lack of tools to specifically manipulate astrocytes without also targeting neurons. For example, pharmacological approaches, such as thapsigargin, a SERCA pump inhibitor used to elevate intracellular calcium concentrations (), might target all cell populations. We will discuss current tools to selectively manipulate astrocytes as well as future directions for further delineation of astrocyte regulation of behavior, especially as relates to understanding astrocyte function based on anatomical location or astrocyte subtypes. Among the extensive literature, this review will highlight the most recent research, particularly in vivo studies, of astrocyte influence on behavior in rodents. In vitro studies remain critical for elucidation of molecular and cellular mechanisms, but in vivo experiments are necessary for understanding the role of astrocytes in whole organismal behavior. Likewise, in vivo experiments can address the effects of sensory input and behavioral state on astrocytes themselves (). In vitro astrocyte manipulations have been reviewed elsewhere () as have recent findings including C. elegans, D. rerio, and D. melanogaster ().

Physiologically Relevant Tools to Manipulate Astrocyte Activity

Astrocyte excitability is primarily mediated through calcium signaling (; ; ) which is complex and varies in duration, amplitude, event rate, and cellular localization of calcium events (, ; ; ). Astrocytes display dynamic intracellular calcium signaling which can be spontaneous or triggered by neuronal activity (; ; ; ). One of the main communication pathways between neurons and astrocytes is through G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) expressed by astrocytes (Figure 1A; ; ). GPCRs interact with heterotrimeric G proteins alpha (α), beta (β), and gamma (γ) (Figure B). Following GPCR activation, the alpha subunit, subdivided into Gq, Gi, and Gs families, dissociates from the beta and gamma proteins leading to downstream signaling cascades including the phospholipase C (PLC)/inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) pathway which results in calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum (Figure 1B; ; ). In vivo fluorescent calcium imaging revealed correlations of astrocyte calcium activity with visual responses (), locomotion (; ) and cortical oscillations () indicating a link between astrocyte calcium activity, neuronal circuits, and behavior. While astrocyte intracellular calcium signaling is critical to astrocyte-neuron communication, the functional relevance of different features of calcium signaling remains a topic of exploration (; ).

FIGURE 1

Many recent studies pair in vivo calcium imaging with effector tools to simultaneously image astrocyte or neuron calcium activity alongside astrocyte-specific perturbations (see Table 1 for summary of tools) (; ; ; ; ; ). For cell type specificity, astrocytes are primarily targeted by expressing effectors under the control of Aldh1l1 (), GFAP (), or the shortened GfaABC1D promoters (; Figure 2A), either through viral vector delivery or in transgenic rodents. Both optogenetic and chemogenetic tools have been applied in astrocytes but experimental manipulation of astrocytes comes with additional caveats (). Astrocytes are not neurons and tools designed for use in neurons must be carefully characterized in astrocytes before assessing behavioral changes (; ). For example, the light-sensitive cation channel channelrhodopsin is widely used to activate neurons through the generation of action potentials (). Yet, studies have employed channelrhodopsin in astrocytes which do not fire action potentials. Stimulation of channelrhodopsin in astrocytes is used to increase intracellular calcium, but this also leads to an increase in extracellular potassium (). While the mechanism of increased potassium is unknown, such increases could impact neuronal firing and confound behavioral results (; ) highlighting the importance of careful characterization of tools in astrocytes. Given the highly prevalent expression of GPCRs in astrocytes, tools targeting GPCR signaling pathways may be more physiologically relevant. However, it is important to note that Gi-coupled DREADDs (Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs) (; ) employed to inhibit neurons have the opposite effect on astrocytes and increase calcium activity and promote gliotransmitter release (; ; Figure 1). Lastly, astrocytes also contact other astrocytes via gap junctions (), so studies aiming to manipulate subsets of astrocytes must also consider the interconnectedness of astrocytes ().

TABLE 1

ToolDescriptionStimulus/ligandEffect in astrocytes
Optogenetics
ChannelrhodopsinLight-sensitive cation channelBlue lightIncreases intracellular Ca2+ in astrocytes but also increases extracellular K +
ArchaerhodopsinLight-sensitive outward proton pumpGreen-yellow lightIncreases intracellular Ca2+ in astrocytes
Optoα1ARLight-sensitive Gq-coupled receptorBlue lightIncreases intracellular Ca2+ in astrocytes , for mouse line see
Melanopsin (Opn4)q–11-coupled photopigmentBlue lightIncreases intracellular Ca2+ in astrocytes
Mlc1-bPACPhotoactivated cyclase from Beggiatoa bacteriumBlue lightElevates astrocyte cAMP
Chemogenetics
hM3DqGq-GPCR coupled DREADDCNOIncreases intracellular Ca2+ in astrocytes
hM4DiGi-GPCR coupled DREADDCNOIncreases intracellular Ca2+ in astrocytes ,
rM3DGs-GPCR coupled DREADDCNOIncreases intracellular Ca2+ in astrocytes
Rs1Gs-GPCR coupled mutated serotonin receptorGR-125487Increased cAMP in cultured astrocytes; Some ligand-independent constitutive Gs-coupled activity
Other
Itpr2−/− mouse lineKnockout of Ca2+ channel activated by inositol trisphosphateNAReduces GPCR mediated Ca2+ elevations
DN-SNARE mouse lineDominant-negative domain of vesicular SNAREAlters astrocyte vesicular trafficking and release but see also
VIPP mouse lineOverexpression of venus tagged Ins(1,4,5)P35′phosphatase (IPP)Metabolizes IP3, reduced Ca2+ signaling in astrocytes
p130PHOverexpression of domain of phospholipase C (PLC)-like protein p130Buffers cytosolic IP3 to inhibit release of Ca2 + from internal stores
iβARKRGS domain of β-adrenergic receptor kinase 1Sequesters Gαq-GTP, reducing Gq GPCR Ca2+ signaling
CalExModified human plasma membrane Ca2+ pump PMCA2Reduces astrocyte Ca2+ signaling
Calcium indicatorsTypically fluorescence emission following Ca2+ bindingNot a manipulation but a readout for calcium activity

Tools used to probe astrocyte influence on behavior.

Description of tools used to manipulate astrocytes, including details on astrocyte-specific effects.

FIGURE 2

Astrocyte Regulation of Behavior

Early evidence for astrocyte regulation of behavior emerged when manipulated astrocyte function and observed altered sleep (discussed below in Sleep section). Next, chemosensitive hindbrain astrocytes were shown to modulate respiration in rats (). In response to decreases in pH, corresponding to elevated blood CO2 levels, astrocyte intracellular calcium levels rise leading to increased astrocytic ATP release, chemoreceptor neuron activation, and increased adaptive breathing revealing a role for astrocytes in a critical homeostatic reflex. Other studies showed that activation of astrocyte Gq-GPCR signaling using hM3Dq DREADD increased heart rate and blood pressure, while decreasing body temperature, indicating astrocyte involvement in additional homeostatic processes (). Over the past decade, a role for astrocytes in behavior modulation has become increasingly clear.

Sleep

Based upon his histological and morphological studies, Ramon y Cajal hypothesized that astrocytes control the switch from wakefulness to sleep (). Modern tools for astrocyte-specific manipulation have recently allowed researchers to probe neuron-astrocyte interactions in the regulation of sleep and wake in vivo. Using a mouse line expressing a dominant negative SNARE protein in astrocytes (DN-SNARE) (; ) that alters astrocyte vesicular trafficking and release, demonstrated a role for astrocytes in sleep pressure, or the drive to sleep following wakefulness. This was further shown to be in an adenosine A1 receptor-dependent manner linking astrocyte-derived adenosine to sleep regulation. Later studies outlined below employed optogenetic activation of astrocytes to acutely test a role in sleep.

Neuronal activity changes in different phases of sleep. During rapid eye movement (REM) sleep neural oscillations are fast and desynchronized while neuronal activity in non-REM (NREM) sleep is synchronized with high-amplitude, low-frequency oscillations also referred to as slow wave sleep (). Channelrhodopsin activation of astrocytes in the anterior cingulate cortex of mice reduces NREM sleep in the light period () while activation of posterior hypothalamus astrocytes increases REM and NREM sleep in the dark period (), indicating possible region-specific, or circadian time-dependent, roles for astrocytes in the regulation of sleep. Indeed, suprachiasmatic nucleus astrocytes display increased calcium signaling at night () and can drive circadian behavior in mice through glutamate release (). Lifelong astrocyte-specific knockout of connexin 43, a gap junction component, also increases sleep in the dark period by silencing orexin wake neurons (). In vivo two-photon calcium imaging allowed researchers to correlate astrocyte calcium activity with features of sleep. For example, astrocyte calcium activity increases with sleep need in D. melanogaster (). Additionally, increases in cortical astrocyte calcium precede shifts to slow wave activity, or the highly synchronized firing of neurons, in mice (). While this latter study was conducted in anesthetized mice, this type of synchronized neuronal firing is typically indicative of slow wave sleep. Increasing astrocyte calcium activity through optogenetic activation shifted the local neuronal network to the synchronized state, suggesting an active role for astrocytes in cortical circuit dynamics ().

Recently, calcium imaging in awake-behaving mice has enabled the study of natural sleep (; ). Tracking cortical astrocyte calcium activity across sleep and wake, found astrocyte calcium activity is lowest during sleep, increases during wake activities including whisking and locomotion, and is highest in the transition from sleep to wake. In this same study, Itpr2 (alias Ip3r2) knockout mice, which have attenuated astrocyte calcium signaling throughout the brain (), did not show increased calcium upon awakening and had disrupted slow wave sleep (NREM and intermediate state sleep) linking astrocyte calcium activity to slow wave activity in natural sleep. Earlier studies found that mice with overexpression of Ins(1,4,5)P3 5′-phosphatase (IPP) in astrocytes (Table 1), had attenuated calcium signaling in hippocampal astrocytes but largely normal calcium signaling in the cortex and normal NREM sleep (), potentially indicating a specific role for cortical astrocytes in NREM sleep regulation.

Studies to increase astrocyte intracellular calcium using chemogenetic activation of cortical astrocyte Gi-GPCR signaling showed increased slow wave activity, whereas activation of the Gq-GPCR pathway disrupted sleep-wake transitions (). Thus, astrocytes regulate distinct features of natural sleep through separable signaling pathways. As noted above, both Gi and Gq signaling increase intracellular calcium in astrocytes (; ) thus this study shows that two different GPCR signaling pathways that both lead to increased calcium can lead to different behavioral outputs (). Existing evidence for astrocyte regulation of sleep primarily points to a role in the regulation of slow wave/NREM sleep. Future studies may continue to parse how distinct astrocyte calcium signaling pathways, and specific elements of calcium signaling such as cellular localization, duration, and amplitude (), regulate different features of sleep. Beyond regulation of sleep-wake states, astrocytes promote solute clearance from the brain during sleep (; ) and astrocyte influences likely extend to the memory consolidation role of sleep, further discussed below.

Memory

Changes in sleep have the potential to impact other behaviors as memory consolidation is considered one important function of sleep (; ; ). In discussing astrocytes and memory, we will briefly focus on known roles for astrocytes in both sleep and memory and then focus solely on memory. As discussed above, Itpr2 knockout mice have blunted astrocyte calcium signaling and altered NREM sleep (). found Itpr2 knockout mice also have deficient remote memory recall but unaffected learning and short-term memory. While brain-wide reduction of astrocyte calcium signaling disrupted NREM sleep and remote memory in separate studies, elevated cortical astrocyte calcium signaling increased delta oscillations which are associated with the weakening of memories () indicating that astrocytes may influence both the strengthening and weakening of memories. While those studies did not test both sleep and memory regulation by astrocytes, found impaired novel objection recognition following sleep deprivation in wildtype mice but DN-SNARE mice did not display this deficit. Thus, gliotransmission may regulate memory deficits following sleep deprivation.

Astrocyte secreted proteins and gliotransmitters shape neuronal plasticity (; ). Synaptic plasticity, including long term potentiation, underlies memory and astrocyte-released factors involved in these processes include D-serine (; ; ) and ATP/adenosine (). Mice lacking these factors or their release from astrocytes display altered memory (; ; ). The contributions of astrocyte secreted factors and gliotransmission to memory are reviewed in detail elsewhere (; ). Here, we will focus on recent work with acute manipulation of astrocytes, using optogenetic and chemogenetic tools, to probe astrocyte regulation of memory across phases of acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval. Different types of memory such as spatial memory or long-term memory can be tested in rodents and well-validated assays include the Y- and T-mazes, novel object recognition and placement tests, Barnes maze, Morris water maze, contextual fear conditioning, and other cued memory assays (; ; ; ).

Many studies have used activation of the Gq-GPCR signaling pathway to test the role of astrocytes in memory. Chemogenetic activation of Gq-GPCR signaling in hippocampal astrocytes improved spatial memory and increased freezing in a contextual fear conditioning assay (). Importantly, this Gq-GPCR activation was sufficient to generate de novo long term potentiation of CA3 to CA1 synapses thought to underly memory formation (). Auditory-cued memory was not affected indicating the engagement of hippocampal astrocyte Gq signaling in select types of memory. Further, increased freezing depended upon Gq activation during memory acquisition or early consolidation but was not affected by activation during memory recall () indicating a role for astrocyte Gq signaling in different phases of memory.

In the anterior cingulate cortex, Gq activation of astrocytes by the light inducible Gq-GPCR, Optoα1AR (Table 1), increased long-term object recognition but did not affect Y-maze or novel object recognition assays (), suggesting a role for cortical astrocytes in long-term memory but not short-term memory. In the prefrontal cortex (PFC), GABAB receptor knockout in astrocytes reduces low-gamma oscillation power and decreases performance in the T-maze (). Stimulation of a melanopsin GPCR tool coupled to Gq11 (; Table 1) in astrocytes rescues this deficit while Gq11 activation in PFC astrocytes in wildtype mice increases low-gamma oscillation power and improves T-maze performance (); thus astrocyte Gq signaling may have a bidirectional ability to modulate memory. The recently developed iβARK tool attenuates astrocyte Gq-induced calcium activity (). Brain-wide expression of iβARK reduces performance in the Y-maze and the modified novel object placement test (). Here, contextual fear conditioning and cued memory are unaffected () suggesting effects only on specific types of memory. While differences in tools used, timescales of activation or attenuation, brain region, and behavioral assays employed make direct comparisons difficult, these recent studies indicate that Gq signaling is indeed critical to astrocyte modulation of memory and hint at regional differences in astrocyte modulation of circuits and behavior.

Fewer studies have investigated the role of astrocyte Gi-GPCR signaling in regulation of memory. Dorsal hippocampal Gi activation attenuates stress-enhanced fear learning (), while CA1 astrocyte Gi activation impairs memory recall and inhibits CA1 to anterior cingulate cortex projections important to memory recall, but not recent memory (). Gi-GPCR signaling is the endogenous signaling pathway activated in astrocytes by μ-opioid receptor agonism and Gi signaling in CA1 astrocytes is implicated in memory acquisition in conditioned place preference () suggesting the presence of astrocyte subtypes involved in different types of memory within the hippocampus.

Lastly, astrocyte Gs-GPCR signaling affects memory. Typically, Gs stimulates adenylyl cyclase and increases the second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP) (). In hippocampal and striatal astrocytes, Gs signaling increases calcium signaling though to a lesser extent than Gq signaling (). Activation of Rs1, a modified Gs-coupled receptor (Table 1), in hippocampal and thalamic astrocytes impairs spatial memory in the Morris water maze when activated during training or one day later (). Conversely, elevating hippocampal astrocyte cAMP through a photoactivated adenylyl cyclase (Table 1) during or immediately after training improved performance in a different memory test, the novel object placement test (). In this same study, increasing cAMP one day after training impaired memory retention (). Differences in the effect on memory may stem from different memory assays used or different timescales of activation. report some ligand-independent constitutive Gs activity which reduced novel object recognition, even in the absence of chemogenetic ligand. Long-term Gs activation in hippocampal astrocytes may generally impair memory while acute cAMP increases seem to improve different aspects of memory. speculate that increased cAMP during memory formation improves performance through hippocampal neuron long term potentiation but that increased cAMP the following day could reduce the original memory through the same mechanism akin to “re-writing” or replacing the memory. Memory is an energetically demanding process, and in addition to the roles discussed here, astrocytes also influence memory by providing energy to neurons through astrocyte-neuron metabolic coupling (; ).

Sensory and Motor

Astrocytes respond to sensory and motor activity through elevations in intracellular calcium signaling. For example, astrocyte calcium signaling increases in response to the stimulation of whiskers, in a frequency-dependent manner (), noting this study was conducted in anesthetized mice which may have altered astrocyte activity. Advances in two-photon imaging with stable head-mounted microscopes allowed for imaging of astrocyte calcium activity in awake behaving mice (). Using two-photon imaging with cellular resolution, found calcium activity correlated with running in a subset of sensory cortex astrocytes in awake behaving mice. Similar techniques revealed increased barrel cortex astrocyte endfoot calcium activity in response to natural hyperemia during whisking or locomotion (), demonstrating astrocyte calcium responses to vascular signaling dependent on behavioral state.

In the cerebellum, large networks of radial astrocytes called Bergmann glia display increased calcium activity at the onset of locomotion (). Channelrhodopsin stimulation of Bergmann glia increases the horizontal optokinetic reflex and pupil size, both known to be modulated by cerebellar circuits (), suggesting a role for Bergmann glia in visual reflexes. Channelrhodopsin activation of V1 astrocytes altered the visual response properties of local neurons affecting both local parvalbumin and somatostatin interneuron excitability (). Calcium signaling in visual cortex astrocytes shows responsiveness to visual stimuli (). Thus, astrocyte calcium activity correlates with behavioral outputs and manipulation of astrocyte activity alters sensory behavior.

More recently, astrocyte calcium imaging paired with electrocorticogram monitoring of neuronal activity revealed that somatosensory cortex astrocytes respond to sensory stimuli in a stimulus-dependent manner in anesthetized mice (). Application of an electrode to the hindpaw induces cortical neuron gamma activity, thought to underlie cognitive processes, followed by increased astrocyte calcium activity that appears to tamp down neuronal gamma activity. This neuronal gamma activity remained high in Itpr2 knockout mice with blunted astrocyte calcium signaling indicating astrocyte regulation of sensory-evoked neuronal activity. Likewise, astrocyte Gq activation by hM3Dq DREADD reduced sensory-evoked neuronal gamma activity (). DN-SNARE mice also show reduced cortical gamma oscillations () suggesting a role for gliotransmitters. Lastly, astrocytes may also modulate tactile discrimination. In the ventrobasal nucleus of the thalamus, astrocytes are the reported source of tonic GABA inhibition important to tactile discrimination. Local infusion of GABA reduces tactile acuity while astrocyte-specific knockdown of GABA synthesis pathway genes increased tactile acuity (). Therefore astrocytes regulate neuronal responses to sensory stimuli both within localized circuits and at the level of cortical neuron networks.

Feeding

Astrocytes actively regulate metabolic homeostasis and feeding behavior. Changes in diet or fasting alter astrocyte gene expression, morphology, and neuronal ensheathment and astrocytes are responsive to glucose and the hormones insulin, leptin, and ghrelin (; ; ; ; ; , ; ). Hypothalamic neurons regulate feeding behavior and agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons of the arcuate nucleus (ARC) in the ventral floor of the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) drive feeding behavior (; ). However, chemogenetic manipulation of MBH astrocytes has yielded conflicting results. In one study, hM3Dq DREADD activation of MBH astrocytes reduced basal food intake as well as feeding induced by the orexigenic hormone ghrelin (). Conversely, found hM3Dq DREADD activation of ARC astrocytes increased food intake. As AgRP neuron activation is known to increase feeding behavior (; ), both studies queried the effect of astrocyte Gq-activation on AgRP neuron activity. reported astrocyte inhibition of AgRP neurons via adenosine while reported facilitation of AgRP neurons by ARC astrocytes. In the latter study, astrocyte-mediated increase in food intake was dependent upon AgRP neuron activity as hM4Di inhibition of AgRP neurons alongside astrocyte activation did not increase food intake. These discrepancies could stem from targeting of the entire MBH () versus specifically the ARC () and may indicate region-specific roles for astrocytes in modulation of food intake.

Interestingly, Gi-coupled hM4Di signaling in MBH astrocytes increased and prolonged ghrelin-evoked feeding but did not affect basal feeding () noting that hM4Di signaling has more recently been shown to increase astrocyte calcium signaling and promote gliotransmitter release (; ), in contrast to inhibition observed in neurons. Reducing astrocyte calcium signaling through buffering of IP3 by p130PH (; Table 1) reduced food intake (). saw no difference in food intake with hM4Di signaling suggesting that different GPCR signaling pathways within hypothalamic astrocytes may have different behavioral effects, as in the cortex ().

The above discrepancies may also arise from food intake analyses across different phases of the light-dark cycle or differing CNO dosage (5 mg/kg vs. 0.3 mg/kg). It is important to note that both studies used the GFAP promoter to target DREADD expression to hypothalamic astrocytes which also targets tanycytes lining the third ventricle, that are also implicated in feeding and energy homeostasis (; ). An additional caveat is neither study assayed additional behaviors such as locomotor or anxiety-like behavior, which may affect feeding behavior and are also modulated by AgRP neurons (; ). Optogenetic activation of MBH astrocytes reduced food intake as well as fasting- or ghrelin-induced increases in food intake, also in an A1-receptor dependent manner (). Here, locomotor or anxiety-like behavior were assayed but were not affected by optogenetic stimulation of MBH astrocytes.

While the differing roles of ARC versus all MBH astrocytes in feeding and their effects on AgRP neurons remain to be further elucidated, recent research corroborates a role for ARC astrocytes in facilitation of AgRP neuron excitement (). AgRP neuron release of GABA promotes increased glial ensheathment of AgRP neurons resulting in increased AgRP neuron excitability and thus a feed-forward loop driving AgRP neuron excitability (). While this work does not directly test behavior, increases in AgRP neuron excitability are expected to increase feeding behavior (; ). Astrocytes are additionally implicated in satiety signals. Astrocytes in the dorsal vagal complex are activated after 12 hours of feeding on a high fat diet. Chemogenetic activation of these astrocytes via hM3Dq expression reduced basal and post-fasting food intake (). Future in vivo studies may employ simultaneous monitoring of neuronal and astrocyte calcium signaling during feeding behavior, alongside astrocyte manipulations, to further resolve the role of astrocytes in feeding in a region-specific manner.

Fear and Anxiety

Both the hippocampus and the amygdala are important for fear and anxiety (; ). As discussed in the Memory section, increased Gq signaling in hippocampal astrocytes promoted freezing in the contextual fear conditioning assay () while brain-wide reduction of Gq signaling did not alter freezing (). Gi-GPCR activation in the dorsal hippocampus attenuated stress-enhanced fear learning (). In the amygdala, astrocytes modulate fear responses through regulation of synapses in the medial subdivision of the central amygdala (CeM) (). Gq DREADD activation of CeM astrocytes reduced local neuron firing rate and decreased fear expression while anxiety-like behavior, as measured by the elevated plus maze, was unaffected (). Knockdown of astrocyte glucocorticoid receptors in the central amygdala attenuates fear memory and reduces anxiety-like behavior in the open field test (). Basolateral amygdala astrocytes are also implicated in the modulation of fear extinction, and chemogenetic Gq-GPCR activation facilitates fear extinction (). Future studies are required to further delineate the role of astrocytes in fear and anxiety though current evidence indicates amygdala astrocyte activity may reduce fear behavior, while hippocampal astrocyte activity has variable effects, potentially dependent on different GPCR signaling pathways or region. A subset of astrocytes in the lateral and capsular part of the central amygdala (CeL) express oxytocin receptors (OTR) and respond to oxytocin signaling with increased calcium signaling that propagates to neighboring astrocytes via gap junctions (). Downstream neuronal NMDA receptor activation increases CeL interneuron excitability ultimately increasing inhibitory input onto medial central amygdala projection neurons. Behaviorally, OTR signaling in these astrocytes has an anxiolytic effect both in pain-free conditions and in a model of neuropathic pain () indicating a role for OTR-expressing astrocytes of the amygdala in anxiety. Future studies are required to understand how other astrocyte subtypes of the CeL influence behavior and, more generally, how interactions of different astrocyte subtypes affect local circuity and downstream behavior.

Cognitive Processes

Understanding of neuronal regulation of cognitive functions like learning, memory, attention, and decision-making has greatly advanced in the last two decades () yet the role of astrocytes in cognitive processes remains relatively unknown. Memory (discussed above) is the most well-studied, and in this last section we will discuss a series of recent studies demonstrating astrocyte contributions to other aspects of cognitive functioning.

Behavioral flexibility is critical to achieving a goal as it allows an organism to pivot to an alternative strategy or to stop the current behavior and preserve energy after repeated failures. In zebrafish, radial astrocytes modulate these adaptative behavioral responses. With increasing failed attempts at swimming, noradrenergic neurons signal to astrocytes which accumulate this “failure signal” as increasing intracellular calcium. Astrocytes then activate GABA neurons that drive cessation of swimming (). In mice, noradrenaline is also implicated in “priming” astrocytes to respond to changes in cortical neuron network activity () indicating that astrocyte networks respond to behavioral state.

In the striatum, different astrocyte populations differentially regulate goal-directed behavior. Habitual behavior can become detrimental when the reward or goal has changed. Chemogenetic activation of dorsomedial striatum astrocyte Gq signaling promotes flexible goal-directed behavior in an operant paradigm in which control mice without astrocyte activation continued to demonstrate habitual behavior (). Astrocyte Gq activation differentially affected the activity of local indirect and direct pathway medium spiny neurons (MSNs). In this same study, mice lacking ENT1, an astrocyte adenosine transporter, did not transition from habitual to goal-directed behavior indicating a role for astrocyte adenosine in behavioral flexibility. Astrocyte regulation of extracellular glutamate levels, by the glutamate transporter EAAT2 (alias GLT-1), is also implicated in behavioral flexibility (). EAAT2 expression rises in dorsolateral striatal astrocytes with increased habitual behavioral inflexibility in an operant paradigm. Yet, chemogenetic activation of astrocyte Gq signaling during overtraining in the operant paradigm reduces EAAT2 expression and restores behavioral flexibility. Thus, neuron-astrocyte interactions underly aspects of behavioral flexibility.

Striatal astrocytes are also implicated in attention. Chemogenetic activation of astrocyte Gi-GPCR pathways, mimicking endogenous GABAB agonism, increases excitatory synapse number, MSN firing rate, and hyperactivity behavior in the open field assay. Further, attention is disrupted in both a modified open field assay and novel object recognition test (). These synaptic and behavioral effects were reversible and returned to control levels 48 hours post-CNO injection. Astrocyte Gi activation through hM4Di DREADD also increased astrocyte thrombospondin-1 and blockade of the thrombospondin-1 receptor rescues synaptic and behavioral deficits (). The authors propose a model in which MSN-released GABA induces astrocyte release of the synaptogenic cue thrombospondin-1, inducing synapse formation and increasing excitatory transmission from MSNs resulting in behavioral alterations. These findings suggest that astrocyte secreted thrombospondin-1 can affect behavior over a short timescale, highlighting the ability of astrocyte secreted factors to affect behavior, either independently of, or alongside, gliotransmission (). Striatal astrocytes are further implicated in repetitive self-grooming behavior. Reduction of striatal astrocyte calcium signaling through overexpression of a modified calcium plasma membrane pump (CalEx) altered local MSN activity and increased self-grooming without affecting motor ability or anxiety-like behavior ().

Lastly, astrocytes are implicated in reward and addiction behavior. Studies have employed astrocyte Gq-GPCR activation to query the role of astrocytes in ethanol intake. Activation of PFC astrocytes increased ethanol consumption in ethanol-naïve male mice whereas reduction of astrocyte calcium via CalEx expression reduced ethanol drinking indicating a bidirectional regulation of ethanol-consumption by PFC astrocytes (). In the basolateral amygdala, activation of astrocytes reduced ethanol consumption in male mice (). Likewise, in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a key reward center, activation of astrocytes in male rats decreased ethanol-seeking behavior after abstinence (). Further, activation of NAc astrocytes in female mice reduced reward-seeking behavior in ethanol dependent mice (). Ethanol exposure alters gene expression in astrocytes in a sex-specific manner () however, none of the above studies tested both male and female mice making direct comparisons of behavior difficult. Future studies are required to identify if astrocytes contribute to sex-specific ethanol-use and reward behavior.

NAc Gq-GPCR activation in male rats also reduced cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking but did not affect initial cocaine self-administration indicating a potential role for astrocytes in relapse behavior (). Generally, NAc astrocyte activity correlates with reduced substance seeking and reduced relapse. Recently, demonstrated that NAc astrocytes respond to dopamine with increased calcium signaling, a response augmented by amphetamine, and absent in Itpr2 knockout mice or in the presence of G protein signaling blockade. Chemogenetic Gq-GPCR activation of NAc astrocytes depresses local excitatory neuronal transmission, via adenosine A1 receptor signaling. Further, Itpr2 knockout mice and mice lacking dopamine D1 receptors in astrocytes showed reduced amphetamine-induced locomotor activity () indicating a role for astrocytes in the behavioral effects of amphetamine and dopaminergic circuitry. Therefore NAc astrocytes regulate reward and addiction behavior, in part, through dopamine responsivity. Future studies may examine astrocytes as a therapeutic target for addiction treatment.

Challenges and Future Prospects

In this review we have discussed the role of astrocytes in regulation of behavior. Acute manipulation of astrocytes with chemogenetic and optogenetic tools allow for the probing of causal relationships between astrocyte activity and animal behavior. This is in contrast to earlier gene knockout, or even inducible knockout studies, that relied on the manipulation of astrocytes over a timescale that might allow for compensatory mechanisms to affect circuitry, neuronal networks, and downstream behavior. Indeed, the ability of astrocytes to regulate synapses extends to larger circuitry and behavioral outputs. Future studies of neural circuits and behavior must therefore consider astrocyte contributions and may even incorporate astrocytes into their circuit diagrams or computational models. While not discussed here, it will also be important to consider the impact of other brain cells such as microglia (; ), oligodendrocytes (; ), and vascular cells (; ) on neuronal and astrocyte activity, and ultimately behavior.

Toward further understanding how astrocyte gliotransmission affects local circuitry and behavior in vivo, there is a growing list of neurochemical sensors that may provide insight (; ; ; ). Many studies reviewed here focused on astrocyte interactions with local neuronal circuitry, as would be expected given that astrocytes do not project to other brain regions as neurons do. However, future studies, and the tools used for experiments, must consider the syncytium of astrocytes connected via astrocyte gap junctions () and the potential spreading of any manipulation within this network. Further, astrocyte gene expression changes across development and into adulthood () therefore it remains critical to consider developmental timing in choice of tool for behavioral studies.

Expanding the Genetic Toolbox for Probing Astrocyte Heterogeneity and Function

The currently used Aldh1l1 (), GFAP (), and GfaABC1D (; Figure 2) promoters efficiently target astrocytes but, in some cases, may target non-astrocyte cells such as the tanycytes lining the ventricle () or subsets of neurons (; ). Numerous recent papers highlight the transcriptional diversity of astrocytes (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ). These databases of astrocyte gene expression may identify new astrocyte specific genetic markers for astrocyte targeting. Further, they may allow for the functional interrogation of astrocyte subtypes, either through genetic markers specific to astrocyte subtypes or through intersectional genetics using existing astrocyte Cre-dependent tools paired with new subtype-specific Flp-dependent tools (Figure 2B; ; ). Already there is evidence for a small population of genetically distinct astrocytes serving an important behavioral role. The OTR-expressing subtype of central amygdala astrocytes makes up around 19% of all astrocytes in that brain region yet mediates the anxiolytic effects of oxytocin (). Future experiments should address the behavioral role of the remaining central amygdala astrocytes as well as exploring astrocyte subtype influences on behavior in other brain regions. If a local astrocyte subtype mediates one behavioral function, might a nearby subtype mediate an opposing behavioral function? Following identification of functional astrocyte subtypes, the next step will be to probe their interactions during naturalistic behaviors. Such experiments will be technically challenging and will likely require two photon imaging with multicolor calcium indicators paired with advanced ethologically relevant behavior tracking (; ). As noradrenaline exerts behavioral state-specific effects on large populations of astrocytes (), an additional challenge will be to understand how more global astrocyte activity resulting from neuromodulation interacts with local circuit- or subtype-specific astrocyte activity ().

Increasing Understanding of Astrocyte Endogenous Signaling Mechanisms

Many of the tools discussed here target astrocyte GPCRs ultimately leading to increased calcium signaling (). Key questions toward resolving astrocyte contributions to behavioral regulation include, (1) what additional intracellular signaling pathways are involved, (2) how is astrocyte gene expression affected, and (3) how does spatially localized astrocyte calcium activity influence behavior? Signaling pathways following GPCR activation in astrocytes are not fully resolved and should be the focus of future investigations. Understanding these molecular mechanisms will also inform tool design for physiologically relevant methods to manipulate astrocytes and probe involvement in behavioral regulation. Future studies should also address how GPCR signaling in astrocytes may alter gene expression. RNA sequencing following GPCR activation can reveal changes in gene expression that may underlie astrocyte regulation of synapses, circuits, and behavior. For example, how Gi-GPCR activation of striatal astrocytes mechanistically increases hyperactivity and attention was revealed through RNA sequencing of astrocytes following acute Gi-GPCR activation compared to control animals, revealing higher expression of the synaptogenic cue thrombospondin-1 (). As astrocyte processes display spontaneous and spatially localized calcium transients that can occur independently of calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum (; ; ; ; ; ), future studies should probe the involvement of spatially localized astrocyte calcium activity in behavior. For example, SpiCee is a recently developed genetically encoded calcium chelator designed to manipulate intracellular calcium levels within different subcellular regions () which may prove useful for such studies. Research on astrocyte intracellular signaling pathways, gene expression, and calcium localization will continue to inform on how astrocytes shape behavior.

Sex Differences in Astrocytes and Behavior

Neuroscience research in mice has regularly focused on male subjects with one analysis finding only 20% of studies used both male and female mice while around 25% did not state the sex of subjects (; ). Cortical astrocytes show significant sex differences in gene expression during development and astrocytes express estrogen receptors (; ). As noted above, ethanol consumption has sex-specific effects on gene expression in astrocytes () indicating the potential for environmental factors to effect astrocyte function in sex-specific ways. Recently, astrocyte-derived thrombospondin-1 was reported to induce cortical synaptogenesis in a sex-specific manner (). Taken together, sex differences in astrocyte regulation of behavior are likely but remain unexplored. Future studies should employ both male and female mice to further elucidate sex differences in astrocytes. As astrocytes also contribute to pathological behavior in disordered states (; ), the use of male and female mice in astrocyte research will have important implications for human health ().

Conclusion

Research reviewed here demonstrates the importance of astrocytes in the regulation of homeostatic functions and diverse behavioral processes. Astrocytes can influence local neuronal circuitry through release of secreted factors or gliotransmitters leading to changes in synaptic structure and altered neuronal excitability. Through these capacities, astrocytes are able to shape behavior via changes in neuronal activity (Figure 3). In turn, neuronal activity can influence astrocyte activity thus these interactions are bidirectional. The majority of studies reviewed here parsed astrocyte behavioral function in circuits known to modulate a specific behavioral function. Acute manipulation of hypothalamic astrocytes influences feeding (; ), hippocampal astrocytes impact memory (; , ; ), and amygdala astrocytes regulate fear (). These functions are already known to be subserved by those brain regions and now astrocyte contributions are beginning to be appreciated. Future studies may reveal surprising roles for astrocytes in behavioral regulation, independent of known neuronal circuit functions. As understanding of astrocyte heterogeneity increases, future experiments will address whether astrocytes perform subtype-specific functions underlying neuronal circuit activity and organismal behavior.

FIGURE 3

Publisher’s Note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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Author contributions

Both authors conceptualized and wrote this review together. Both authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Funding

NA was supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01 NS105742, R01 NS089791, and RF1 DA048816) and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. KL was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health (K00 NS108515).

Acknowledgments

We thank Adrien Paumier, Laura Sancho, Kathryn Lehigh, and Ashley Brandebura for comments on the manuscript. Figures were created using BioRender.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

References

Summary

Keywords

astrocyte, behavior, chemogenetic, optogenetic, GPCR

Citation

Lyon KA and Allen NJ (2022) From Synapses to Circuits, Astrocytes Regulate Behavior. Front. Neural Circuits 15:786293. doi: 10.3389/fncir.2021.786293

Received

30 September 2021

Accepted

05 November 2021

Published

04 January 2022

Volume

15 - 2021

Edited by

Edward S. Ruthazer, McGill University, Canada

Reviewed by

Grant Robert Gordon, University of Calgary, Canada; Gertrudis Perea, Cajal Institute (CSIC), Spain

Updates

Copyright

*Correspondence: Krissy A. Lyon, Nicola J. Allen,

Disclaimer

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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