Deciphering the star codings: astrocyte manipulation alters mouse behavior

Astrocytes occupy a vast area within the central nervous system (CNS). Despite their abundance, the functional role of astrocytes in vivo has only begun to be uncovered. Astrocytes were typically thought to be involved in pathophysiological states. However, recent studies have shown that astrocytes are actively involved in cell signaling in normal physiological states; manipulating various aspects of astrocytic cell signaling in vivo has revealed that astrocytes are key players in controlling healthy behavior in the absence of pathophysiology. Unfortunately, the study of astrocyte function is often limited by the number of approaches available due to our lack of understanding of cell physiology. This review summarizes recent studies in which altered astrocyte signaling capacity resulted in dramatic changes in behavior. We not only discuss the methodologies available to manipulate astrocytes but also provide insights into the behavioral roles of astrocytes in the CNS.