Research Faculty

Swananda Marathe

Inspire faculty fellow

E-Mail : swanand[at]iisc.ac.in
Swanand Lab Website

Research Areas

Role of astrocytes in behavior and disease


Research Details

Although how neurons influence behavior has been investigated in great detail, there has been little clarity on the role played by astrocytes, a far more abundant cell type, in orchestrating behavior. Astrocytes form an integral part of the synaptic machinery and a single astrocyte can contact and influence the function of about 1,00,000 synapses. They are highly important for normal synaptic function and many brain disorders are associated with astrocytic dysfunction. We are interested in studying how astrocytes and neurons communicate with each other to modulate synaptic plasticity. We investigate the role of astrocytes in behavior with a particular emphasis on mood-related disorders such as anxiety and depression. We are currently studying Jagged-Notch signaling at astrocyte-neuron interfaces.

Approach

We use wide ranging experimental techniques involving molecular biology, pharmacology, histology, behavioral experiments, confocal and immuno-electron microscopy and proteomics. We also use genetically modified mice and viral transductions to effect gene delivery.

 

Publications

Arnab nandi, Garima Virmani, Swananda Marathe , (2021), Hippocampal astroglial hypertrophy in mice subjected to early life maternal deprivation, bioRxiv.

Arnab Nandi, Garima Virmani, Aatmika Barve, Swananda Marathe, (2021), DBscorer: an open source software for automated accurate analysis of rodent behavior in forced swim test and tail suspension test, eNeuro (accepted).

Sethi P, Virmani G, Gupta K, Thumu SCR, Ramanan N, Marathe S., (2021), Automated morphometric analysis with SMorph software reveals plasticity induced by antidepressant therapy in hippocampal astrocytes, Journal of cell science , 134(12), jcs258430

Garima Virmani, Priyal D’almeida, Arnab Nandi, Swananda Marathe , (2021), Subfield-specific Effects of Chronic Mild Unpredictable Stress on Hippocampal Astrocytes, European Journal of Neuroscience, April

Parul Sethi, Garima Virmani, Surya Chandra Rao Thumu, Narendrakumar Ramanan, Swananda Marathe, (2020), Automated Morphometric Analysis Reveals Plasticity Induced by Chronic Antidepressant Treatment in Hippocampal Astrocytes, bioRxiv

Garima Virmani, PriyalD'almeida, Arnab Nandi, Swananda Marathe, (2020), Subfield-specific Effects of Chronic Mild Unpredictable Stress on Hippocampal Astrocytes, bioRxiv

Marathe S, D'almeida PL, Virmani G, Bathini P, Alberi L, (2018), Effects of Monoamines and Antidepressants on Astrocyte Physiology: Implications for Monoamine Hypothesis of Depression, Journal of Experimental Neuroscience, 23:, 1-7

Marathe S, Jaquet M, Annoni J-M and Alberi L, (2017), Jagged1 Is Altered in Alzheimer’s Disease and Regulates Spatial Memory Processing, Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience

Marathe S, Alberi L, (2015), Notch in memories: points to remember, Hippocampus , 25(12), 1481-1488.

Brai E*, Marathe S*, Astori S, Ben Fredj N, Perry E, Lamy C, Alberi L , (2015), Notch1 regulates hippocampal plasticity through interaction with the Reelin pathway, glutamatergic transmission and CREB signaling., Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 9, 447.

Husain BF*, Nanavaty I*, Marathe S, Rajendran R, Vaidya VA , (2015), Hippocampal transcriptional and neurogenic changes evoked by combination yohimbine and imipramine treatment, Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 61, 1-9.

Marathe S, Liu S, Brai E, Kaczarowski M, Alberi L , (2015), Notch signaling in response to excitotoxicity induces neurodegeneration via erroneous cell cycle re-entry., Cell Death and Differentiation , 22(11), 1775-1784.

Marathe S, Alberi L , (2014), Monitoring Notch activity in the mouse., In Notch Signaling (pp. 115-129). Humana Press, New York, NY.

Swananda Marathe, Lavinia Alberi , (2014), Paradoxical effects of notch signaling in response to environmental enrichment during critical period: molecular mechanism underlying cognitive reserve?, AAIC2014,

Brai E, Marathe S, Zentilin L, Giacca M, Nimpf J, Kretz R, Scotti A, Alberi L., (2014), Notch1 activity in the olfactory bulb is odour-dependent and contributes to olfactory behavior, European Journal of Neuroscience

. Jhaveri DJ*, Nanavaty I*, Prosper BW, Marathe S, Husain BF, Kernie SG, Bartlett PF, Vaidya VA. , (2014), Opposing effects of α2- and β-adrenergic receptor stimulation on quiescent neural precursor cell activity and adult hippocampal neurogenesis, PLoS One

Alberi L, Hoey SE, Brai E, Scotti AL, Marathe S , (2013), Notch signaling in the brain: in good and bad times., Ageing Research Reviews

I. Nanavaty, S. Marathe, V. Vaidya., (2012), Neurogenic effects of rapid action antidepressants, International journal of developmental neuroscience

Jhaveri DJ, Mackay EW, Hamlin AS, Marathe SV, Nandam LS, Vaidya VA, Bartlett PF , (2010), Antidepressants that regulate norepinephrine levels activate stem and progenitor cells in the adult hippocampus via β3-adrenergic receptors, Journal of Neuroscience

Yanpallewar SU*, Fernandes K*, Marathe SV*, Vadodaria KC, Jhaveri D, Rommelfanger K, Ladiwala U, Jha S, Muthig V, Hein L, Bartlett P, Weinshenker D, Vaidya VA, (2010), α2-adrenoceptor blockade accelerates the neurogenic, neurotrophic, and behavioral effects of chronic antidepressant treatment., Journal of Neuroscience