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Maamrah B, Pocsai K, Hoang BM, Abdelhadi A, Al-Khafaji MQ, Csemer A, Sokvári C, Szentesi P, Pál B. Chronic Chemogenetic Activation of Astrocytes in the Murine Mesopontine Region Leads to Disturbances in Circadian Activity and Movement. Int J Mol Sci 2025; 26:4793. [PMID: 40429935 PMCID: PMC12111845 DOI: 10.3390/ijms26104793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2025] [Revised: 05/13/2025] [Accepted: 05/14/2025] [Indexed: 05/29/2025] Open
Abstract
We have previously shown that neuromodulatory actions on astrocytes can elicit metabotropic glutamate- and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-dependent tonic changes in excitability in the mesopontine region. Although in vitro experiments explored robust effects, the in vivo significance of our findings remained unknown. In this project, chronic chemogenetic activation of mesopontine astrocytes and its actions on movement, circadian activity, acoustic startle and spatial memory were tested. The control group of young adult male mice where mesopontine astrocytes expressed only the mCherry fluorescent tag was compared to the group expressing the hM3D(Gq) chemogenetic actuator. Chronic chemogenetic astrocyte activation reduced the amplitude of the acoustic startle reflex and increased the locomotion speed in the resting period. Gait alterations were also demonstrated but no change in the spatial memory was explored. As a potential background of these findings, chronic astrocytic activation decreased the cholinergic neuronal number to 54% and reduced the non-cholinergic neuronal number to 76% of the control. In conclusion, chronic astrocytic activation and the consequential decrease in the neuronal number led to disturbances in movement and circadian activity resembling brainstem-related symptoms of progressive supranuclear palsy, raising the possibility that astrocytic overactivation is involved in the pathogenesis of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baneen Maamrah
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4012 Debrecen, Hungary; (B.M.); (K.P.); (B.M.H.); (A.A.); (M.Q.A.-K.); (A.C.); (C.S.); (P.S.)
- Doctoral School of Molecular Sciences, University of Debrecen, H-4012 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Pocsai
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4012 Debrecen, Hungary; (B.M.); (K.P.); (B.M.H.); (A.A.); (M.Q.A.-K.); (A.C.); (C.S.); (P.S.)
| | - Bui Minh Hoang
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4012 Debrecen, Hungary; (B.M.); (K.P.); (B.M.H.); (A.A.); (M.Q.A.-K.); (A.C.); (C.S.); (P.S.)
- Doctoral School of Molecular Sciences, University of Debrecen, H-4012 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Ali Abdelhadi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4012 Debrecen, Hungary; (B.M.); (K.P.); (B.M.H.); (A.A.); (M.Q.A.-K.); (A.C.); (C.S.); (P.S.)
| | - Mustafa Qais Al-Khafaji
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4012 Debrecen, Hungary; (B.M.); (K.P.); (B.M.H.); (A.A.); (M.Q.A.-K.); (A.C.); (C.S.); (P.S.)
| | - Andrea Csemer
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4012 Debrecen, Hungary; (B.M.); (K.P.); (B.M.H.); (A.A.); (M.Q.A.-K.); (A.C.); (C.S.); (P.S.)
| | - Cintia Sokvári
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4012 Debrecen, Hungary; (B.M.); (K.P.); (B.M.H.); (A.A.); (M.Q.A.-K.); (A.C.); (C.S.); (P.S.)
- Doctoral School of Molecular Sciences, University of Debrecen, H-4012 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Péter Szentesi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4012 Debrecen, Hungary; (B.M.); (K.P.); (B.M.H.); (A.A.); (M.Q.A.-K.); (A.C.); (C.S.); (P.S.)
- HUN-REN Cell Physiology Research Group, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Balázs Pál
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4012 Debrecen, Hungary; (B.M.); (K.P.); (B.M.H.); (A.A.); (M.Q.A.-K.); (A.C.); (C.S.); (P.S.)
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