Justin Trotter
@astrosyn.bsky.social
Assistant Professor, Depts. Neurosciences & Neurobiology. Astrocyte-synapse interactions, neuroimmune interactions, & super res. microscopy. Cat dad.
I was once called a gliavangelist and it holds true nearly a decade later. Can you blame me?
October 29, 2025 at 9:55 PM
I was once called a gliavangelist and it holds true nearly a decade later. Can you blame me?
Reposted by Justin Trotter
Astrocytes functionally integrate multiple synapses via specialized leaflet domains
Astrocytes functionally integrate multiple synapses via specialized leaflet domains
Volumetric high-resolution electron microscopy reveals thin astrocyte leaflets form
gap-junction-interconnected domains that contain minuscule endoplasmic reticulum saccules
and enwrap synapses in clu...
www.cell.com
September 26, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Astrocytes functionally integrate multiple synapses via specialized leaflet domains
Reposted by Justin Trotter
Thrilled to share this manuscript from my lab where we looked at how glycopolymers that compose the glycocalyx influence protein folding and protein-protein interactions via macromolecular crowding.
TLDR: The Glycocalyx stabilizes protein folding and PPIs
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
TLDR: The Glycocalyx stabilizes protein folding and PPIs
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Glycopolymers stabilize protein folding and protein-protein interactions via enthalpic interactions
Macromolecular crowding is ubiquitous to physiological environments, perturbing the thermodynamics and kinetics of proteins via excluded volume and nonspecific chemical interactions. While crowding ha...
www.biorxiv.org
August 13, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Thrilled to share this manuscript from my lab where we looked at how glycopolymers that compose the glycocalyx influence protein folding and protein-protein interactions via macromolecular crowding.
TLDR: The Glycocalyx stabilizes protein folding and PPIs
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
TLDR: The Glycocalyx stabilizes protein folding and PPIs
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Justin Trotter
Dopamine dynamics in the nucleus accumbens core reflected decision confidence during evaluation of decisions in an economic foraging task in mice, as well as both past and future value during re-evaluation and change-of-mind
@perothwell.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@perothwell.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Individual differences in decision-making shape how mesolimbic dopamine regulates choice confidence and change-of-mind - Nature Neuroscience
Differences in neuroeconomic decision-making influence nucleus accumbens dopamine dynamics and reflect choice confidence during evaluation, as well as past and future value during re-evaluation, which...
www.nature.com
August 4, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Dopamine dynamics in the nucleus accumbens core reflected decision confidence during evaluation of decisions in an economic foraging task in mice, as well as both past and future value during re-evaluation and change-of-mind
@perothwell.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@perothwell.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Justin Trotter
Absolutely thrilled to share the first half of my PhD work! Super proud to see it finally out!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Thread below for a quick (10 point) recap of what we found!
🧵🧪🧠
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Thread below for a quick (10 point) recap of what we found!
🧵🧪🧠
A divergent astrocytic response to stress alters activity patterns via distinct mechanisms in male and female mice - Nature Communications
Early-life stress has lifelong impacts on neuronal function and behavior. Here, the authors show that astrocytic glucocorticoid receptor signaling drives stress-induced neuronal and behavioral change ...
www.nature.com
July 11, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Absolutely thrilled to share the first half of my PhD work! Super proud to see it finally out!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Thread below for a quick (10 point) recap of what we found!
🧵🧪🧠
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Thread below for a quick (10 point) recap of what we found!
🧵🧪🧠
Reposted by Justin Trotter
Sharing a new paper from the lab. This paper, led by Sangyoon Ko, represents a merging of two longstanding research themes in the lab-- adult neurogenesis and systems consolidation.
rdcu.be/el18q
A short thread follows for those interested.
1/n
rdcu.be/el18q
A short thread follows for those interested.
1/n
Systems consolidation reorganizes hippocampal engram circuitry
Nature - A study shows that loss of memory precision associated with systems consolidation can be explained by neurogenesis-dependent reorganization of engram circuitry within the hippocampus over...
rdcu.be
May 14, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Sharing a new paper from the lab. This paper, led by Sangyoon Ko, represents a merging of two longstanding research themes in the lab-- adult neurogenesis and systems consolidation.
rdcu.be/el18q
A short thread follows for those interested.
1/n
rdcu.be/el18q
A short thread follows for those interested.
1/n
Reposted by Justin Trotter
Excited to share our new work demonstrating a role for astrocytic inflammasome signaling in modulating hippocampal plasticity. @cp-immunity.bsky.social
All credit to Kristine Zengeler, who was the brains🧠 and muscle💪 behind this project and is a wonderful collaborator. www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
All credit to Kristine Zengeler, who was the brains🧠 and muscle💪 behind this project and is a wonderful collaborator. www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
Inflammasome signaling in astrocytes modulates hippocampal plasticity
The function of immune pathways in homeostatic neurobiology remains underexplored.
Zengeler et al. find that the inflammasome complex, typically associated with immune
responses, is involved in memory...
www.cell.com
May 3, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Excited to share our new work demonstrating a role for astrocytic inflammasome signaling in modulating hippocampal plasticity. @cp-immunity.bsky.social
All credit to Kristine Zengeler, who was the brains🧠 and muscle💪 behind this project and is a wonderful collaborator. www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
All credit to Kristine Zengeler, who was the brains🧠 and muscle💪 behind this project and is a wonderful collaborator. www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
Reposted by Justin Trotter
Thrilled to announce that my lab is now open at Ohio State! We study astrocytes as gene therapy targets for brain repair after ischemic stroke and in vascular dementia, developing new viral tools along the way. If you're interesting in joining or collaborating, please reach out!
gleichmanlab.com
gleichmanlab.com
The Gleichman lab
gleichmanlab.com
May 1, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Thrilled to announce that my lab is now open at Ohio State! We study astrocytes as gene therapy targets for brain repair after ischemic stroke and in vascular dementia, developing new viral tools along the way. If you're interesting in joining or collaborating, please reach out!
gleichmanlab.com
gleichmanlab.com
Reposted by Justin Trotter
Our lab's 1st paper, led by @fchrisbennett.bsky.social & @waisenberg.bsky.social. A decade thinking how to directly assess the impact of microglia replacement. Yrs of hard work. This kind of work is needed to expand brain disease care for kids & the vision for safer, more effective cell therapy.
Online now: Direct microglia replacement reveals pathologic and therapeutic contributions of brain macrophages to a monogenic neurological disease
Direct microglia replacement reveals pathologic and therapeutic contributions of brain macrophages to a monogenic neurological disease
Hematopoietic stem cell transplant is the gold standard for treatment of globoid cell leukodystrophy, also called Krabbe disease. Aisenberg et al. define the molecular signature of disease-associated macrophages (globoid cells) and demonstrate that brain-specific high-efficiency macrophage replacement in the twitcher model of Krabbe disease improves neuropathology, macrophage dysfunction, and survival.
dlvr.it
April 30, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Our lab's 1st paper, led by @fchrisbennett.bsky.social & @waisenberg.bsky.social. A decade thinking how to directly assess the impact of microglia replacement. Yrs of hard work. This kind of work is needed to expand brain disease care for kids & the vision for safer, more effective cell therapy.
Really cool and important work with interferon at the podium composing a glial symphony (alongside a visiting lymphocyte ensemble) geared towards repair!
How does the brain repair myelin after injury?
We mapped the full cellular choreography of white matter repair using snRNA-seq + Slide-seqv2, uncovering a type I interferon-driven glial program that recruits lymphocytes to promote remyelination.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Details below 👇
We mapped the full cellular choreography of white matter repair using snRNA-seq + Slide-seqv2, uncovering a type I interferon-driven glial program that recruits lymphocytes to promote remyelination.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Details below 👇
Spatiotemporal Analysis of Remyelination Reveals a Concerted Interferon-Responsive Glial State That Coordinates Immune Infiltration
Remyelination, the process by which axons are re-encased in myelin after injury, is a critical step in restoring brain function, yet the dynamics from initial injury to repair remain poorly characteri...
www.biorxiv.org
April 29, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Really cool and important work with interferon at the podium composing a glial symphony (alongside a visiting lymphocyte ensemble) geared towards repair!
Reposted by Justin Trotter
In our latest edition of “This paper changed my life,” @liddelowsa.bsky.social explains how two papers from Ben Barres’ lab completely changed the way the field studies astrocytes and enabled everything discovered in glia research since.
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/this-paper-c...
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/this-paper-c...
This paper changed my life: Shane Liddelow on two papers that upended astrocyte research
A game-changing cell culture method developed in Ben Barres’ lab completely transformed the way we study astrocytes and helped me build a career studying their reactive substates.
www.thetransmitter.org
April 23, 2025 at 1:13 PM
In our latest edition of “This paper changed my life,” @liddelowsa.bsky.social explains how two papers from Ben Barres’ lab completely changed the way the field studies astrocytes and enabled everything discovered in glia research since.
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/this-paper-c...
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/this-paper-c...
Reposted by Justin Trotter
Our new paper is out in Science.
What is the synaptic plasticity rule in the brain, we asked. It turns out there are multiple, even within individual neurons.
Congrats Jake!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
What is the synaptic plasticity rule in the brain, we asked. It turns out there are multiple, even within individual neurons.
Congrats Jake!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Distinct synaptic plasticity rules operate across dendritic compartments in vivo during learning
Synaptic plasticity underlies learning by modifying specific synaptic inputs to reshape neural activity and behavior. However, the rules governing which synapses will undergo different forms of plasti...
www.science.org
April 17, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Our new paper is out in Science.
What is the synaptic plasticity rule in the brain, we asked. It turns out there are multiple, even within individual neurons.
Congrats Jake!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
What is the synaptic plasticity rule in the brain, we asked. It turns out there are multiple, even within individual neurons.
Congrats Jake!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Justin Trotter
🚨 A new Daneman Lab preprint!! 🚨
Reid Larsen, one of the brightest scientists I know, studied the BBB glycocalyx, identified its structure, composition, and function and uncovered what makes the CNS glycocalyx unique. It was a true pleasure to be a part of this seminal study!
shorturl.at/Wkhxr
Reid Larsen, one of the brightest scientists I know, studied the BBB glycocalyx, identified its structure, composition, and function and uncovered what makes the CNS glycocalyx unique. It was a true pleasure to be a part of this seminal study!
shorturl.at/Wkhxr
Multi-omic analysis reveals the unique glycan landscape of the blood-brain barrier glycocalyx
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) glycocalyx is the dense layer of glycans and glycoconjugates that coats the luminal surface of the central nervous system (CNS) vasculature. Despite being the first point...
www.biorxiv.org
April 12, 2025 at 8:58 PM
🚨 A new Daneman Lab preprint!! 🚨
Reid Larsen, one of the brightest scientists I know, studied the BBB glycocalyx, identified its structure, composition, and function and uncovered what makes the CNS glycocalyx unique. It was a true pleasure to be a part of this seminal study!
shorturl.at/Wkhxr
Reid Larsen, one of the brightest scientists I know, studied the BBB glycocalyx, identified its structure, composition, and function and uncovered what makes the CNS glycocalyx unique. It was a true pleasure to be a part of this seminal study!
shorturl.at/Wkhxr
Reposted by Justin Trotter
1/ Why do patients with late-stage cancer lose motivation & sink into apathy?
🔥 Our new Science paper shows chronic inflammation activates a cytokine-sensing brain circuit that lowers motivation. Huge team effort: Aelita Zhu, Sarah Starosta, Pignatelli & Janowitz labs! 🧵
🔗 doi.org/10.1126/scie...
🔥 Our new Science paper shows chronic inflammation activates a cytokine-sensing brain circuit that lowers motivation. Huge team effort: Aelita Zhu, Sarah Starosta, Pignatelli & Janowitz labs! 🧵
🔗 doi.org/10.1126/scie...
A neuroimmune circuit mediates cancer cachexia-associated apathy
Cachexia, a severe wasting syndrome associated with inflammatory conditions, often leads to multiorgan failure and death. Patients with cachexia experience extreme fatigue, apathy, and clinical depres...
doi.org
April 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM
1/ Why do patients with late-stage cancer lose motivation & sink into apathy?
🔥 Our new Science paper shows chronic inflammation activates a cytokine-sensing brain circuit that lowers motivation. Huge team effort: Aelita Zhu, Sarah Starosta, Pignatelli & Janowitz labs! 🧵
🔗 doi.org/10.1126/scie...
🔥 Our new Science paper shows chronic inflammation activates a cytokine-sensing brain circuit that lowers motivation. Huge team effort: Aelita Zhu, Sarah Starosta, Pignatelli & Janowitz labs! 🧵
🔗 doi.org/10.1126/scie...
Refreshing to see @moeneuro.bsky.social deliver a home-run on empathy and compassion in a time that needs more of it.
April 1, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Refreshing to see @moeneuro.bsky.social deliver a home-run on empathy and compassion in a time that needs more of it.
Reposted by Justin Trotter
🚨iGluSnFR4 is finally out!🚨🧪
We present iGluSnFR4f and 4s, a novel pair of genetically-encoded glutamate indicators designed for high-fidelity imaging of synaptic activity in the living brain. ⬇️
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🎥 Below: iGluSnFR4s detecting minis in cultures w/ TTX
#Neuroscience
We present iGluSnFR4f and 4s, a novel pair of genetically-encoded glutamate indicators designed for high-fidelity imaging of synaptic activity in the living brain. ⬇️
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🎥 Below: iGluSnFR4s detecting minis in cultures w/ TTX
#Neuroscience
March 25, 2025 at 12:10 PM
🚨iGluSnFR4 is finally out!🚨🧪
We present iGluSnFR4f and 4s, a novel pair of genetically-encoded glutamate indicators designed for high-fidelity imaging of synaptic activity in the living brain. ⬇️
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🎥 Below: iGluSnFR4s detecting minis in cultures w/ TTX
#Neuroscience
We present iGluSnFR4f and 4s, a novel pair of genetically-encoded glutamate indicators designed for high-fidelity imaging of synaptic activity in the living brain. ⬇️
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🎥 Below: iGluSnFR4s detecting minis in cultures w/ TTX
#Neuroscience
Reposted by Justin Trotter
this exciting work comes from studying sex differences - reactivation of the silent X chromosome in aging female mice reveals factors that promote cognition in old XX and XY mice. super cool, congrats to all - lets keep studying what makes us different!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Aging activates escape of the silent X chromosome in the female mouse hippocampus
Aging activates the silent X chromosome, increasing escape expression, and potentially cognitive resilience, in the female mouse.
www.science.org
March 7, 2025 at 2:11 AM
this exciting work comes from studying sex differences - reactivation of the silent X chromosome in aging female mice reveals factors that promote cognition in old XX and XY mice. super cool, congrats to all - lets keep studying what makes us different!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Justin Trotter
Microglia dysfunction, neurovascular inflammation and focal neuropathologies are linked to IL-1- and IL-6-related systemic inflammation in COVID-19 @natureneuro.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Microglia dysfunction, neurovascular inflammation and focal neuropathologies are linked to IL-1- and IL-6-related systemic inflammation in COVID-19 - Nature Neuroscience
The authors show that brain inflammation in COVID-19 correlates with viral load, systemic inflammation and virus-sensing pattern recognition receptors. Microglial dysfunction occurs at sites of vascul...
www.nature.com
March 6, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Microglia dysfunction, neurovascular inflammation and focal neuropathologies are linked to IL-1- and IL-6-related systemic inflammation in COVID-19 @natureneuro.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Justin Trotter
Defining the molecular identity and morphology of glia limitans superficialis astrocytes in vertebrates: Cell Reports www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Defining the molecular identity and morphology of glia limitans superficialis astrocytes in vertebrates
Hasel et al. show that molecularly and morphologically specialized astrocytes make
up the brain and spinal cord surface, thereby creating the glia limitans superficialis.
These astrocytes selectively ...
www.cell.com
March 4, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Defining the molecular identity and morphology of glia limitans superficialis astrocytes in vertebrates: Cell Reports www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Reposted by Justin Trotter
February 26, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Talked for 1+ hour with my Trump-supporting grandma and succeeded in convincing her to call her AL representatives to protect a strong American investment in science and to end the chaos. Have these difficult conversations, provide detail, and you will be surprised of their power.
February 23, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Talked for 1+ hour with my Trump-supporting grandma and succeeded in convincing her to call her AL representatives to protect a strong American investment in science and to end the chaos. Have these difficult conversations, provide detail, and you will be surprised of their power.
Reposted by Justin Trotter
☀️☀️☀️ NEW WEBSITE IS UP! ☀️☀️☀️
www.standupforscience2025.org
Read about us, our policy goals, and ways to get involved. This website will also continue to grow as we do, so keep an eye on it!
www.standupforscience2025.org
Read about us, our policy goals, and ways to get involved. This website will also continue to grow as we do, so keep an eye on it!
February 19, 2025 at 7:53 PM
☀️☀️☀️ NEW WEBSITE IS UP! ☀️☀️☀️
www.standupforscience2025.org
Read about us, our policy goals, and ways to get involved. This website will also continue to grow as we do, so keep an eye on it!
www.standupforscience2025.org
Read about us, our policy goals, and ways to get involved. This website will also continue to grow as we do, so keep an eye on it!
Reposted by Justin Trotter
Teaching citizens about science
🤝
Teaching students about being a citizen
🤝
Teaching students about being a citizen
In a special edition of her “How to teach this paper” column, Ashley Juavinett @analog-ashley.bsky.social explains how to best educate students about how the business of scientific research actually works.
www.thetransmitter.org/how-to-teach...
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/how-to-teach...
#neuroskyence
How to teach students about science funding
As researchers reel over the uncertain state of U.S. federal funding, educating students on the business of science is more important than ever.
www.thetransmitter.org
February 19, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Teaching citizens about science
🤝
Teaching students about being a citizen
🤝
Teaching students about being a citizen
Reposted by Justin Trotter
Petition to Reverse the NIH Indirect Cost Cap initiated by Tom Maniatis. Please amplify
Sign the Petition: chng.it/kK2HMP5pGk
"Share with Leadership & Faculty. Reach out to professional societies, biotech and pharma leaders, and philanthropic organizations to raise awareness and mobilize support."
Sign the Petition: chng.it/kK2HMP5pGk
"Share with Leadership & Faculty. Reach out to professional societies, biotech and pharma leaders, and philanthropic organizations to raise awareness and mobilize support."
Sign the Petition
Petition to Reverse the NIH Indirect Cost Cap (NOT-OD-25-068)
chng.it
February 10, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Petition to Reverse the NIH Indirect Cost Cap initiated by Tom Maniatis. Please amplify
Sign the Petition: chng.it/kK2HMP5pGk
"Share with Leadership & Faculty. Reach out to professional societies, biotech and pharma leaders, and philanthropic organizations to raise awareness and mobilize support."
Sign the Petition: chng.it/kK2HMP5pGk
"Share with Leadership & Faculty. Reach out to professional societies, biotech and pharma leaders, and philanthropic organizations to raise awareness and mobilize support."
Sunday ponderings at the microscope on how to convince the average American that knowing the mysteries buried within this image (and others) is important and that sustained public funding (including sufficient indirect support) remains as important as ever.
February 9, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Sunday ponderings at the microscope on how to convince the average American that knowing the mysteries buried within this image (and others) is important and that sustained public funding (including sufficient indirect support) remains as important as ever.