Brain-body physiology: Local, reflex, and central communication.

Behavior is tightly synchronized with bodily physiology. Internal needs from the body drive behavior selection, while optimal behavior performance requires a coordinated physiological response. Internal state is dynamically represented by the nervous system to influence mood and emotion, and body-brain signals also direct responses to external sensory cues, enabling the organism to adapt and pursue its goals within an ever-changing environment.

Vagal TRPV1 sensory neurons regulate myeloid cell dynamics and protect against influenza virus infection.

Influenza viruses are a major global cause of morbidity and mortality. Vagal TRPV1 nociceptive sensory neurons, which innervate the airways, are known to mediate defenses against harmful agents. However, their function in lung antiviral defenses remains unclear.

A chemogenetic screen reveals that Trpv1-expressing neurons control regulatory T cells in the gut.

Neuroimmune cross-talk participates in intestinal tissue homeostasis and host defense. However, the matrix of interactions between arrays of molecularly defined neuron subsets and of immunocyte lineages remains unclear. We used a chemogenetic approach to activate eight distinct neuronal subsets, assessing effects by deep immunophenotyping, microbiome profiling, and immunocyte transcriptomics in intestinal organs.

Krause corpuscles are genital vibrotactile sensors for sexual behaviours.

Krause corpuscles, which were discovered in the 1850s, are specialized sensory structures found within the genitalia and other mucocutaneous tissues. The physiological properties and functions of Krause corpuscles have remained unclear since their discovery. Here we report the anatomical and physiological properties of Krause corpuscles of the mouse clitoris and penis and their roles in sexual behaviour.