Astroglial development as the basis for the effects of early life stress on adult depressive-like behavior​

Abstract

This thesis investigates the enduring effects of early-life stress, specifically maternal separation, on astroglial population and the subsequent behavioral outcomes in adult mice. While the persistent impact of early-life stress on physiology and behavior is well-documented, the role of astrocytes in mediating these effects remains largely unexplored. Employing a comprehensive approach, we investigate immediate post-stress cell proliferation, cellular composition and conduct a detailed morphometric analysis of hippocampal astrocytes during late adulthood. Our study revealed a reduction in cell proliferation and subsequent astrocyte decrease at six months, linked to depressive-like behavior in maternally stressed mice. Our findings uncover astrocytic hypertrophy persisting in adulthood post maternal separation, suggesting a lasting effect on astroglia. In tandem with the cellular assessments, this study integrates behavioral analyses utilizing the forced swim test and tail suspension test, shedding light on the depressive-like behavior associated with early-life stress. In addition to the experimental investigations, this thesis introduces ‘DBscorer’ and ‘tracKit’, two open-source MATLAB software with an intuitively designed Graphical User Interface (GUI) for precise measurement in behavioral experiments. Addressing the computational complexities often faced by behavioral laboratories, this two software provides a user-friendly and accurate solution, saving valuable time and resources for researchers. This research advances our understanding of the enduring impact of early-life stress on cellular proliferation, astroglial changes and provides a practical tool for the broader neuroscience community, facilitating precise and efficient analysis for various behavioral assessments in laboratory settings.