Depolarization of astrocytes in the basolateral amygdala restores WFS1 neuronal activity and rescues impaired risk-avoidance behavior in DISC1TM mice

Many mental illnesses are accompanied by abnormal risk-avoidance behavior, yet we have only a limited understanding of the neuronal regulatory mechanisms involved. We previously established an inducible DISC1-N terminal fragment transgenic mouse (DISC1-NTM) model which has exhibited risk-avoidance deficiency. Using this model, we analyzed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using snRNA-seq and the results indicate impaired neuron-astrocyte interactions. We used optogenetic tools to modulate astrocytes in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and found that ChR2-expressing astrocytes were able to rescue risk-avoidance impairment in DISC1-NTM mice. Using patch clamp recordings combined with signal-cell qPCR, we found impaired excitability of BLAWFS1 neurons in DISC1-NTM mice and that ChR2-expressing astrocytes can induce action potentials (APs) in WFS1 neurons, which restores WFS1 neuronal activity. WFS1 neurons are necessary for BLA astrocytes to modulate impaired risk-avoidance behavior. These finding provide new insights into mechanisms of astrocyte-neuron interactions and suggest that BLA astrocytes may be a promising target for impaired risk avoidance in mental illness. HighlightsChR2-expressing astrocytes in the BLA rescue impaired risk-avoidance behavior in DISC1-NTM mice. Astrocytes in the BLA modulate different nearby neurons to different degrees. Depolarization of BLA astrocytes restore neuronal activity in WFS1 neurons. Astrocytes in the BLA modulate WFS1 neurons via NMDARs.