Anxiety could be considered a result of the unconscious assessment of the environment and detection of a potential danger. Thus, moderate anxiety is advantageous for survival while excessive anxiety can lead to psychiatric disorders. Researchers at Tohoku University have shown that neuron and astrocyte interactions in the habenula set the tone of anxiety by studying the blues in the minds of mice faced with a floor filled with marbles.
Support our science by reposting my post below in X (twitter)! https://twitter.com/KoMatsui/status/1758330608756089287 Wanqin Tan, Yoko Ikoma, Yusuke Takahashi, Ayumu Konno, Hirokazu Hirai, Hajime Hirase, Ko Matsui* (2024) Anxiety control by astrocytes in the lateral habenula. Neuroscience Research, available online, Feb 2, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neures.2024.01.006 Anxiety may appear to be an irrational emotion having only a negative impact on our life. However, well-tuned anxiety is a guide provided by our unconsciousness which allows us to navigate the hidden dangers. Such tuning may be accomplished by the actions of the habenula. The habenula are a pair of small nuclei located above the thalamus. It is one of the few brain regions that controls both dopaminergic and serotonergic systems. As these neuromodulators play essential roles in a wide range of motivational and cognitive functions, habenula neuronal circuits are potentially relevant to controlling anxiety. Mice have never encountered smooth glass marbles and they perceive them as potentially harmful objects. To escape from the uneasiness, mice tend to bury the marble in saw dust bedding to hide these uncomfortable objects out of sight. Here, the researchers created a chamber filled with marbles to create an inescapable maximum anxiety environment. Increased neuronal activity in the theta band (5 to 10 Hz) frequency, increase in the local brain blood volume, and acidification of the astrocytes in the habenula were found when the mice were placed in the all-marble cage. When the habenular astrocytes were artificially alkalized to counter the acidification, the theta band neuronal activity dissipated. When the mice were allowed to choose between the brightly lit all-marble cage and a dark and comfortable cage, the mice naturally chose to stay in the dark cage. However, when the habenular astrocytes were optogenetically alkalized, the mice ventured to travel more in the bright cage. Astrocytes are non-neuronal cells that occupy approximately half of the brain. They have been shown to control the local ionic and metabotropic environment in the brain. Astrocytes also release transmitters that can affect neuronal activity in the vicinity. The results of this study suggest that the theta band habenular neuronal activity is regulated by the activity of astrocytes. Thus, habenular astrocytes were considered to play a role in regulating anxiety. Future treatment of anxiety disorders may be realized by developing a therapeutic strategy that adjusts astrocyte activity in the habenula.Habenular astrocytes tune the marble blues. Methods to cope with anxiety could be expected to be developed. Press Release - Tohoku University https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/press/habenular_astrocytes_tuning_anxiety_with_marble_blues.html Graduate School of Life Sciences https://www.lifesci.tohoku.ac.jp/en/research/results/detail---id-51803.html Super-network Brain Physiology, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University http://www.ims.med.tohoku.ac.jp/matsui/
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Prof. Dr. Ko Matsui
In search for our mind, we look deeply into the super-network of neurons and glial cells. Graduate School of Life Sciences @ Tohoku University. Archives
February 2024
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