Sex-dependent and region-specific morphological adaptations in astrocytes following early-life stress

Early-life stress reshapes basal amygdala astrocyte morphology in a sex-specific way in mice, with females showing larger 2D measures and males showing reduced surface area and volume.

• Why it matters: Astrocyte structure reflects experience-dependent plasticity, but comparing single-cell morphometry across brain regions and experimental groups is difficult without complete cellular territories.
• What they did: Mice received unilateral retro-orbital sparse labeling using PHP.eB-GfaABC1D-eGFP, enabling 3D surface reconstruction and Sholl analysis of eGFP-positive astrocytes in the amygdala.
• The result: In females, early-life stress increased perimeter, area, and Feret diameter without 3D volume or resolved filament changes, while males showed reduced surface area and volume without territorial, soma diameter, or resolved filament changes.

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