As a way to fend of bacteria and respond to viruses, the brain’s immune cells (known as “microglia”) trigger inflammation in an attempt to mitigate damage.
Notably, this immune-triggered response in the cerebellum was linked to changes in the animals’ behavior.
These behavioral modulations are signs of ‘depression-like’ behavior. Once the inflammation subsided, they were back to normal," Ohtsuki said. "Moreover, the phenotype can be rescued if the rats are treated with neuro-immunity suppressants and inflammatory cytokines.