ePoster

DORSAL RAPHE ASTROCYTES ORCHESTRATE SOCIAL BONDING

Andrea Sánchez-Ruizand 4 co-authors

Centro de Neurociencias Cajal

FENS Forum 2026 (2026)

Barcelona, Spain

Board PS07-10AM-387

Presentation

Date TBA

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Board: PS07-10AM-387

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Poster Board

PS07-10AM-387

Poster

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Abstract

Social behaviors such as bonding, preference, and social memory are essential for life in groups and are tightly regulated by complex neural circuits. In this context, the dorsal raphe nucleus (DR) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) have been linked to several aspects of social behaviors, including social recognition, social reward and empathy-like behaviors. While neurons have traditionally been the focus, emerging evidence highlights astrocytes as active regulators of synaptic physiology and complex behaviors. However, their contribution to social behaviors is yet poorly explored. Here, we investigate the role of DR astrocyte-neuron signaling to social behaviors, and how it can impact the mPFC excitability as one of the main DR-targeted areas. To answer those questions, we combined optogenetics and electrophysiological recordings, both ex vivo, and in vivo during social behavioral paradigms. We have found that selective activation of DR astrocytes reshaped social preference promoting prosocial attachment (bonding). At network level, DR astrocyte activation lead to both local modulation of serotonergic (5-HT) neurons, resulting in elevated 5-HT release in mPFC, and enhanced mPFC neuronal firing during interactions with bonded individuals. Furthermore, DR astrocytic activation improved social identity encoding by mPFC circuits. Overall, these data support the ability of astrocytes to modulate long-range circuits that control social behavior.

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