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Star-like cells spark behavioural hyperactivity in mice

A molecular dialogue between neurons and star-shaped cells called astrocytes in the striatum of the mouse brain leads to behavioural hyperactivity and inattentiveness that are reminiscent of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
  1. Zhihua Gao

    1. Zhihua Gao is at the Center for Neuroscience and in the Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.

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  2. Hailan Hu

    1. Hailan Hu is at the Center for Neuroscience and in the Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.

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Astrocytes are star-shaped cells that account for about 40% of cells in the mammalian brain. Initially considered to be the ‘glue’ that sticks neurons together, astrocytes actually have crucial roles in brain homeostasis and in regulating the formation, maturation, function and elimination of synapses, the connections through which neurons communicate with each other1–4. Although much progress has been made in elucidating the roles of astrocytes1–4, our understanding of how they regulate neural circuits and affect behaviours that are associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders is just emerging5–9. Writing in Cell, Nagai et al.10 present evidence in mice that selective activation of astrocytes in the striatum, a brain region that integrates signals from many parts of the brain to coordinate voluntary movement11, drives behavioural changes that resemble the symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in humans through a dialogue with striatal neurons.

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Nature 571, 43-44 (2019)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-01949-2

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