Courtney A. Bouchet

Glucocorticoid - endocannabinoid crosstalk in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) promotes pain resolution

The paper shows that glucocorticoid-endocannabinoid interactions in the vlPAG promote pain resolution but require careful management to avoid receptor desensitization.

Sex-specific organization and synaptic signaling in prefrontal-hypothalamic circuitry

This study examines sex-specific differences in prefrontal-hypothalamic circuitry in rats, revealing sex differences in neuronal excitability, synaptic connectivity, and stress-activated neurons.

Physiologically distinct neurons within the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray are not defined by mu-opioid receptor expression but are differentially activated by persistent inflammation

The paper identifies distinct neuron types in the vlPAG based on intrinsic firing patterns and shows that persistent inflammation selectively activates Phasic neurons, which are not defined by mu-opioid receptor expression.

Persistent inflammation promotes endocannabinoid release and presynaptic cannabinoid 1 receptor desensitization

This study shows that persistent inflammation reduces presynaptic CB1R function in rats but maintains eCB activation, with implications for pain therapy development.