Zonca L, Bellier F C, Milior G, Aymard P, Visser J, Rancillac A, Rouach N, Holcman D
Applied Mathematics and Computational Biology, IBENS, Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Paris, France.
Center for Brain and Cognition, University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
Commun Biol. 2025 Jan 24;8(1):114. doi: 10.1038/s42003-024-07390-0.
Astrocytes form extensive networks with diverse calcium activity, yet the organization and connectivity of these networks across brain regions remain largely unknown. To address this, we developed AstroNet, a data-driven algorithm that uses two-photon calcium imaging to map temporal correlations in astrocyte activation. By organizing individual astrocyte activation events chronologically, our method reconstructs functional networks and extracts local astrocyte correlations. We create a graph of the astrocyte network by tallying direct co-activations between pairs of cells along these activation pathways. Applied to the CA1 hippocampus and motor cortex, AstroNet reveals notable differences: astrocytes in the hippocampus display stronger connectivity, while cortical astrocytes form sparser networks. In both regions, smaller, tightly connected sub-networks are embedded within a larger, loosely connected structure. This method not only identifies astrocyte activation paths and connectivity but also reveals distinct, region-specific network patterns, providing new insights into the functional organization of astrocytic networks in the brain.
星形胶质细胞形成具有多样钙活性的广泛网络，但这些网络在不同脑区的组织和连接性在很大程度上仍不清楚。为了解决这个问题，我们开发了AstroNet，这是一种数据驱动的算法，它使用双光子钙成像来绘制星形胶质细胞激活中的时间相关性。通过按时间顺序组织单个星形胶质细胞激活事件，我们的方法重建功能网络并提取局部星形胶质细胞相关性。我们通过计算沿这些激活途径的细胞对之间的直接共激活来创建星形胶质细胞网络的图。应用于海马体CA1区和运动皮层，AstroNet揭示了显著差异：海马体中的星形胶质细胞显示出更强的连接性，而皮质星形胶质细胞形成更稀疏的网络。在这两个区域中，较小的、紧密连接的子网嵌入在较大的、松散连接的结构中。这种方法不仅识别星形胶质细胞激活路径和连接性，还揭示了不同的、区域特异性的网络模式，为大脑中星形胶质细胞网络的功能组织提供了新的见解。
