We first performed a qualitative study in which we pooled samples from micropunches obtained from the PVN and CeA of sham and HF rats at the same time points (8 weeks and 14 weeks) at which the morphometric studies were performed and analyzed mRNA levels of IBA1, GFAP, cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6), A1 astrocyte markers (Serping1 and C3), and A2 astrocyte markers (Tm4sf1 and Sphk1) (Fig. S5a–d). Here, IL6 is linked to hydrops fetalis.