Dysfunctional serotonergic neuron-astrocyte signaling in depressive-like states.

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 signaling in MDD are poorly understood. Here, we found that corticosterone-treated juvenile mice (Cort-mice) showed altered astrocytic Ca dynamics in mPFC both in resting conditions and during social interactions, in line with altered mice behavior.