Abstract

Short abstractHabituation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to repeated homotypic stressors is crucial for the organisms well-being. Many physiological and psychological disorders are associated with HPA axis dysfunction. Here, we show that glucocorticoid receptors in CRF neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus are essential for HPA habituation. By increasing inhibitory tone onto CRF neurons, glucocorticoid receptors led to essential cellular modulation and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation dampening, when re-exposed to the same stressor.