Publications

Peer-reviewed articles

  1.  Ye Q, Nunez J, Zhang X (2023) Zona incerta dopamine neurons encode motivational vigor in food seeking. Science Advances (In press)

  2. Wu J, Liu Z, Huang T, Wang Y, Song M, Song T, Long T, Zhang X, Zhang L (2022) Cerebrospinal fluid circulating tumor DNA depicts profiling of brain metastasis in NSCLC. Molecular Oncology. 17 (5), 810-824

  3. Ye Q, Nunez J, Zhang X (2022) Raphe serotonin projections dynamically regulate feeding behavior through targeting inhibitory circuits from rostral zona incerta to paraventricular thalamus. Molecular Metabolism. 66:1-17 

  4. Ye Q, Nunez J, Zhang X (2022) Oxytocin receptor-expressing neurons in the paraventricular thalamus regulate feeding motivation through excitatory projections to the nucleus accumbens core.  The Journal of Neuroscience. 42 (19) 3949-3964 

  5. Ye Q, Zhang X. (2021) Serotonin activates paraventricular thalamic neurons through direct depolarization and indirect disinhibition from zona incerta. The Journal of Physiology-London. 599 (21):4883-4900

  6. Barrett LR, Nunez J, Zhang X. (2021) Oxytocin activation of paraventricular thalamic neurons promotes feeding motivation to attenuate stress-induced hypophagia. Neuropsychopharmacology. 46(5): 1045-1056

  7. Zhang L, Zhang X, Hsieh LS, Lin TV, Bordey A. (2021) Rab27a-dependent paracrine communication controls dendritic spine formation and sensory responses in the barrel cortex. Cells 10(3): 622

  8. van den Pol AN, Acuna C, Davis JN, Huang H, Zhang X. (2019) Defining the caudal hypothalamic arcuate nucleus with a focus on anorexic excitatory neurons. The Journal of Physiology-London. 597(6):1605-1625 (Highlighted in The Journal of Physiology (2019): VGluT2 neuronal population of the arcuate nucleus: towards a more balanced vision of food intake control)

  9. Zhang X, van den Pol AN. (2017) Rapid binge-like eating and body weight gain driven by zona incerta GABA neuron activation. Science. 356(6340): 853-859 (Special comment by The Neuroscientist (2017): Neurobiology of binge eating: big impact from a small nucleus)

  10. Han W, Tellex LA, Rangel MJ, Motta SC, Zhang X, Perez IO, Canteras NS, Shammah-Lagnado SJ, van den Pol AN, de Araujo IE. (2017) Integrated control of predatory hunting by central nucleus of the amygdala. Cell. 168(1): 311-324 (Cover article and Highlighted in Cell (2017): Blood on the tracks: Two pathways for predation)

  11. Zhang X, van den Pol AN. (2016) Hypothalamic arcuate nucleus tyrosine hydroxylase neurons play orexigenic role in energy homeostasis. Nature Neuroscience. 19(3): 1341-1347 (Recommended in F1000)

  12. Tellez LA, Han W, Zhang X, Ferreira TL, Shammah-lagnado S, Perez IO, van den Pol AN, de Araujo IE. (2016) Separate circuitries encode the hedonic and nutritional value of sugar. Nature Neuroscience. 19(3): 465-470 (Highlighted in Nature Review Neuroscience (2016): A separate sweet circuit)

  13. Han W, Tellez LA, Niu J, Medina S, Ferreira TL, Zhang X, Su J, Schwarz GJ, van den Pol AN, de Araujo IE. (2016) Striatal dopamine links gastrointestinal rerouting to altered sweet appetite. Cell Metabolism. 23(1): 103-112 (Highlighted in Cell Metabolism (2016): Bypassing intestinal sugar enhancement of sweet appetite)

  14. Blanco-Centurion C, Liu M, Konadhode RP, Zhang X, Pelluru D, van den Pol AN, Priyattam SJ. (2016) Optogenetic activation of melanin-concentrating neurons increases NREM and sleep during the night in rats. European Journal of Neuroscience. 44: 2846-2857

  15. Zhang X, van den Pol AN. (2015) Dopamine/tyrosine hydroxylase neurons of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus release GABA, communicate with dopaminergic and other arcuate neurons, and respond to dynorphin, met-encephalin and oxytocin. The Journal of Neuroscience. 35(45): 14966-14982 (Cover article)

  16. Zhang X, van den Pol AN. (2013) Direct inhibition of arcuate nucleus POMC neurons- a potential mechanism for the orexigenic actions of dynorphin. The Journal of Physiology-London. 591:1731-1747 (Highlighted in The Journal of Physiology (2013): It takes more than one opioid receptor to inhibit a POMC neuron)

  17. Huang C, Li WG, Zhang X, Wang L, Xu TL, Wu D, Li Y. (2013) Alpha-asarone from acorus gramineus alleviates epilepsy by modulating A-type GABA receptors. Neuropharmacology. 65:1-11

  18. Zhang X, van den Pol AN. (2012) Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) inhibits melanin concentrating hormone neurons- implications for TRH-mediated anorexic and arousal actions. The Journal of Neuroscience. 32(9): 3032-3043

  19. Yao Y, Fu LY, Zhang X, van den pol AN. (2012) Vasopressin and oxytocin excite MCH neurons, but not other lateral hypothalamic GABA Neurons. American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. 302(7): R815-82

  20. Zhang X, Spergel DJ. (2012) Kisspeptin inhibits high-voltage activated Ca2+ Channels in GnRH neurons via multiple Ca2+ influx and release pathways. Neuroendocrinology. 96(1): 68-80

  21. Jiang P, Kong Y, Zhang X, Wang W, Liu CF, Xu TL. (2009) Glycine receptors in rat hippocampal and spinal cord neurons as a molecular target for rapid actions of 17-β-estradiol. Molecular Pain. 5:2

  22. Yang CX, Zhang X, Gong N, Wang MY, Xu TL. (2008) Differential effects of thiopental and pentobarbital on spinal GABAA receptors. Neurochemical Research. 33(10): 2159 2165

  23. Zhang X, Sun, GC, Liu, LY, Yu F, Xu TL.H (2008) Alpha-2 subunit specificity of cyclothiazide inhibition on glycine receptors. Molecular Pharmacology. 73:1195-1202

  24. Zhang X, Jiang P, Gong N, Hu XL, Fei D, Xiong ZQ, Xu L, Xu TL. (2008) A-type GABA receptor as a central target of TRPM8 agonist menthol. PLoS ONE. 3(10): e3386

  25. Gong N, Zhang M, Zhang X, Chen L, Sun GC, Xu TL. (2007) The aspirin metabolite salicylate enhances neuronal excitation in rat hippocampal CA1 area through reducing GABAergic inhibition. Neuropharmacology. 54(2): 454-463

 

Book Chapters

  1. Zhang X. (2021) Neuropeptide Regulation of Ion Channels and Food Intake - Nonclassical Ion Channels in the Nervous System.  CRC press. 147-171