{
  "abstract": "While microglia are well known for pruning synapses during neurodevelopment, their role in synapse formation remains understudied. Here we investigate how microglial absence impacts synaptic development in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a region critical for emotional regulation and motivated behaviors. Using genetically modified mice lacking microglia (Csf1rΔFIRE/ΔFIRE), we find blunted excitatory synapse formation in the NAc, particularly during the second and third postnatal weeks. Tissue-level NAc proteomics in the third postnatal week reveals changes in proteins involved in synapse structure, trans-synaptic signaling, and pre-synaptic function. Although electrophysiological changes largely resolve by adulthood, microglia-lacking mice exhibit persistent changes in threat avoidance behavior and underlying NAc neuronal activity. Transient depletion of NAc microglia during the second postnatal week similarly disrupts synapse formation and adult threat avoidance. Together, these findings identify a role for microglia in shaping NAc synaptic development and in establishing functional circuits that support adult behavioral function.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA USA",
    "Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles, CA USA",
    "UCLA Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California, Los Angeles, CA USA",
    "Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA USA",
    "Institution for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK",
    "Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey, Mexico"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 18,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Michael W. Gongwer",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4506-1224"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Fanny Etienne",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1461-0809"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Eric N. Moca"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Sara V. Blagburn-Blanco",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-1732-7363"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Megan S. Chappell"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Keionna A. Newton"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Daniel T. Gray",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-6262-5178"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jack P. Riley",
      "orcid": "0009-0008-5160-4281"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Chloe R. Christensen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Russell N. Ahmed",
      "orcid": "0009-0006-2594-5811"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Alexander S. Enos",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-3168-8349"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Melody Haratian",
      "orcid": "0009-0001-0919-8645"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Alex Qi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4,
        5
      ],
      "name": "Rocio Rojo"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Scott A. Wilke",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7421-4015"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Clare Pridans",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-9423-557X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Laura A. DeNardo",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7607-4773"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Lindsay M. De Biase",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-0177-5601"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7x0nvj7gt29y8.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41467-026-77487-z",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13710536/",
  "id": "7x0nvj7gt29y8",
  "issns": [
    "2041-1723"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-77487-z",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Article"
    ],
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      "openalex",
      "2808|Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms"
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  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-77487-z_reference.pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13710536",
  "pmid": "42934239",
  "published": "2026-09-26",
  "publisher": "Nature Publishing Group",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7x0nvj7gt29y8.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-31T12:21:29Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13710536",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-77487-z"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2808|Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms",
      "subfield": "neurology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Microglia regulate nucleus accumbens synaptic development and circuit function underlying threat avoidance behaviors in mice",
  "title_text": "Microglia regulate nucleus accumbens synaptic development and circuit function underlying threat avoidance behaviors in mice",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-31T12:21:29Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7x0nvj7gt29y8",
  "venue": "Nature Communications",
  "versions": []
}