Presentation
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Role of Glial Cells in the Pathophysiology of Stuttering: A Focus on Synaptic Refinement
Poster A61 in Poster Session A, Tuesday, October 24, 10:15 am - 12:00 pm CEST, Espace Vieux-Port
Shahriar SheikhBahaei1, Afuh Adeck1, Maximillian Weinhold1, Marissa Millwater1; 1National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Neuron-Glia Signaling and Circuit Unit, Bethesda, MD, USA
Synaptic refinement is essential to brain development, orchestrating the elimination and preservation of specific synapses in response to neural activity fluctuations. Disruptions in this process have been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Tourette Syndrome. Despite indications from imaging data suggesting that a similar deficit may be present in individuals who stutter, supporting direct experimental data has been limited. In this study, we utilized viral-vector-assisted circuit mapping, advanced electron and light microscopy, and 3D computer-assisted cellular reconstruction techniques to study synaptic pruning in a mouse model of stuttering. Our findings indicate a significant deficit in the synaptic refinement within key brain regions associated with vocal projection. This deficit results in an excessive number of synapses, the critical points for neuronal communication, which may significantly impact brain function. Considering the integral role of astrocytes and microglia in synaptic pruning, our data suggest that these glial cells may have a significant role in the pathophysiology of the stuttering disorder. This study contributes to our understanding of the synaptic processes implicated in the pathophysiology of stuttering disorders and possibly other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Topic Areas: Disorders: Developmental, Genetics