Astrocytes Control Cocaine-Induced Synaptic Plasticity and Reward Through the Matricellular Protein Hevin.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Astrocytes in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) play a dynamic role in regulating synaptic plasticity induced by drugs of abuse through modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission. Astrocyte-secreted factors may also contribute to the reprogramming of brain circuitry that leads to drug-seeking behavior. Here, we investigated the role of astrocyte Ca²⁺ signals in vivo and of the astrocyte-secreted protein hevin in the rewarding properties of cocaine.

Methods

Ca²⁺ signals in NAc astrocytes were measured by in vivo fiber photometry during conditioned place preference (CPP) to cocaine. Depletion of Ca²⁺ and chemogenetic activation were used to evaluate the contribution of astrocyte Ca²⁺ signals to cocaine CPP. The effects of coc

SUBMITTER: Mongredien R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12260929 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature