1. General: Characterize the functional multisynaptic organization of central neural pathways that control neuroendocrine secretion, autonomic function, and motivated behavior in rodent models.
2. Specific: Reveal the role of central noradrenergic and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) neural signaling pathways in anxiety-like behavior and stress responses using neuroanatomical, physiological, and behavioral approaches
Zheng H, Reiner DJ, Hayes MR, Rinaman L. Chronic Suppression of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor (GLP1R) mRNA Translation in the Rat Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis Reduces Anxiety-Like Behavior and Stress-Induced Hypophagia, But Prolongs Stress-Induced Elevation of Plasma Corticosterone. J Neurosci. 2019.
Zheng H, Rinaman L, Simplified CLARITY for visualizing immunofluorescence labeling in the developing rat brain., Brain Struct Funct, 2016 PubMed
Zheng H, Stornetta RL, Agassandian K, Rinaman L., Glutamatergic phenotype of glucagon-like peptide 1 neurons in the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract in rats., Brain Struct Funct, 2015 PubMed
Zheng H, Cai L, Rinaman L., Distribution of glucagon-like peptide 1-immunopositive neurons in human caudal medulla., Brain Struct Funct, 2015 PubMed