Astrocyte dysfunction drives abnormal resting-state functional connectivity in depression.

The article presents a study which showed that the astrocytic calcium-deficient mice, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-type-2 receptor knockout mice (Itpr2-/- mice), display abnormal resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) functional connectivity (rsFC) in depression-related networks. Topics include characteristically consistent rsFC changes in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients and Itpr2-/- mice and data acquisition of resting-state fMRI and optogenetic fMRI experiments.