Selected Publications:
Razidlo JA, Fausner SML, Ingebretson AE, Wang LC, Petersen CM, Mirza S, Swank IN, Alvarez VA, Lemos JC. Chronic loss of muscarinic M5 receptor function manifests disparate impairments in exploratory behavior in male and female mice despite common dopamine regulation. Journal of Neuroscience. 2022 Jul 26:JN-RM-1424-21.
Lemos JC and Alvarez VA (2019). The upside of stress: A mechanism for the positive motivational role of corticotropin releasing factor. Neuropsychopharmacology. PMID:
Lemos JC, Shin JH and Alvarez VA (2019). Striatal cholinergic interneurons are a novel target of corticotropin releasing factor. Journal of Neuroscience. 2019 Jul 17;39(29):5647-5661. PMID: 31109960
Lemos JC, Shin JH, Ingebretson AE, Dobbs LK, Alvarez VA (2018). Cholinergic interneurons as a novel CRF target in the striatum that is spared by repeated stress. Posted at a pre-print in BioRXIV, October 22, 2018, https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/10/22/448571 ; Submitted for peer-review October 22, 2018.
Dobbs LK*, Lemos JC* and Alvarez VA. (2016). Restructuring of basal ganglia circuitry and associated behaviors triggered by low striatal D2 receptor expression: implications for substance use disorders. Genes, Brain, Behavior. 2017 Jan;16(1):56-70. PMID: 27860248 * co-first author, listed in alphabetical order
Lemos JC, Friend DM, Kaplan AR, Shin JH, Rubinstein M, Kravitz AV, Alvarez VA. (2016) Enhanced GABA transmission drives bradykinesia following loss of dopamine D2 receptor signaling. Neuron, May 18;90(4):824-38. PMID:27196975
Dobbs LK, Kaplan AR, Lemos JC, Matsui A, Rubinstein MR, Alvarez VA. (2016) Dopamine regulation of lateral inhibition between striatal neurons gates the stimulant actions of cocaine. Neuron, online publication May 12. PMID:27181061
Lemos JC, Wanat MJ, Smith JS, Reyes BAS, Hollon NG, Van Bockstaele EJ, Chavkin C, Phillips PEM. (2012). Severe stress switches CRF action in the nucleus accumbens from appetitive to aversive. Nature, Oct 18;490(7420):402-6. PMID:22992525
Lemos JC, Roth CA, Messinger DI, Gill HK, Phillips PEM, Chavkin C. (2012) Repeated stress dysregulates κ-opioid receptor signaling in the dorsal raphe through a p38α MAPK-dependent mechanism. Journal of Neuroscience, Sep 5;32(36):12325-36. PMID:22956823
Bruchas MR, Schindler AG, Shankar H, Messinger DI, Miyatake M, Land BB, Lemos JC, Hagan CE, Neumaier JF, Quintana A, Palmiter RD, Chavkin C. (2011). Selective p38α MAPK deletion in serotonergic neurons produces stress resilience in models of depression and addiction. Neuron, Aug 11;71(3):498-511. PMID:21835346
Calizo LH, Ma X, PanY, Akanwa A, Lemos JC, Craige C, Heemstra L, Beck SG. (2011). Raphe serotonin neurons are not homogenous: Electrophysiological, morphological and neurochemical evidence. Neuropharmacology, Sep;61(3):524-43. PMID:21530552
Lemos JC, Zhang G, Walsh T, Kirby LG, Akanwa AC, Brooks-Kayal A, Beck SG. (2011). Stress hyperresponsive WKY rats demonstrate depressed dorsal raphe neuronal excitability and dysregulated CRF mediated responses. Neuropsychopharmacology. Mar;36(4):721-34. PMID:21160465
Bruchas MR, Land BB, Lemos JC, Chavkin C. (2009). CRF1-R activation of the dynorphin/kappa opioid system in the mouse basolateral amygdala mediates anxiety-like behavior. PLOS One. 4(12): 1-9. PMID:20052275
Kirby LG, Freedman-Daniels E, Lemos JC, Nunan JD, Akanwa AC, Beck SG. (2008). Corticotropin-releasing factor increases GABA synaptic activity and induces inward current in 5-hydroxytryptamine dorsal raphe neurons. Journal of Neuroscience. 28: 12927-12937. PMID:19036986
Land BB, Bruchas MR, Lemos JC, Melief EJ, Xu M, Chavkin C. (2008) Stress-induced Dysphoria is encoded by the dynorphin-kappa opioid system. Journal of Neuroscience. 28:407-414. PMID:18184783
Lemos JC, Pan YZ, Lamy C, Akanwa AC, Beck, SG. (2006) Selective 5-HT1B receptor inhibition of glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic activity in rat dorsal and median raphe. European Journal of Neuroscience. 24: 3415-3430. PMID:17229091