Dysregulation of the prefrontal inhibitory GABAergic system causes pathological changes to emotional behaviors. Parvalbumin cells are a subtype of interneuron that provides strong, fast-spiking inhibitory control in neural circuits. I contributed to the finding that chronic stress increases parvalbumin protein expression in the prefrontal cortex of female mice, which correlates with increased anxiety-like behavior. I then discovered that chemogenetic excitation of prefrontal parvalbumin cells replicates the behavioral effects of chronic stress, namely increased anxiety-like behavior in females. This work led to the hypothesis that prefrontal excitatory/inhibitory balance is disrupted by chronic stress in mice and in human cases of emotional disorders like anxiety and depression. Specifically, these conditions involve over-inhibition in the prefrontal cortex and therapeutic interventions may require lifting inhibition to restore a balance between inhibition and excitation.
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Kv3.1 voltage-gated potassium channels modulate anxiety-like behaviors in female mice. Page CE, Coutellier L. Neuroscience (2023)
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Prefrontal parvalbumin cells are sensitive to stress and mediate anxiety-related behaviors in female mice. Page CE *, Shepard R *, Heslin K, Coutellier L. Scientific Reports (2019) *Co-first author
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Prefrontal excitatory/inhibitory balance in stress and emotional disorders: Evidence for over-inhibition. Page CE, Coutellier L. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (2019)
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Sensitivity of the prefrontal GABAergic system to chronic stress in male and female mice: Relevance for sex differences in stress-related disorders. Shepard R, Page CE, Coutellier L. Neuroscience (2016)