Sandra Luz

Maternal defense against intruders changes her subsequent maternal behavior and neural circuitry

This study shows that repeated maternal defense against intruders disrupts maternal behavior and neural circuits in rats, with specific effects on the prefrontal cortex and amygdala-dPAG pathway.

The glucocorticoid response element near the sphingosine-1-phopshate receptor 3 gene mitigates inflammatory processes and maladaptive behavior in females and stressed males

This study shows that GR-induced S1PR3 expression reduces social anxiety and stress-induced inflammation by affecting neural coherence in rats.

Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc/Arg3.1)-mediated plasticity in the paraventricular thalamic nucleus promotes a fundamental adaptation to stress

This study shows that Arc in the pPVT promotes habituation to repeated stress by increasing dendritic spines and enhancing mPFC connectivity.

FTY720 (Fingolimod), a modulator of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors, increases baseline hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis activity and alters behaviors relevant to affect and anxiety

This study shows that FTY720 increases baseline HPA axis activity and reduces anxiety- and despair-like behaviors in rats by reducing angiogenesis in the medial prefrontal cortex.