Publications

Selected publications:

1. Arakawa H, Arakawa K, Levitt ES (2026) Hypothalamic Glutamatergic/Orexinergic Neurons Attenuate Fentanyl-Induced Respiratory Depression via Medullary Pre-Bötzinger Complex Pathways. J Neurosci PMID: 42476913 [Selected for Cover]

2. Varga AG, Reid BT, Maletz SN, Dossat AM, Levitt ES (2026) Opposing control of the respiratory brainstem on multiple timescales achieved by transmitter co-release from the locus coeruleus. J Neurosci  PMID: 42521625

3. Walicki MC, Mueller MR, Raigosa Garza N, Levitt ES, Traynor JR, Jutkiewicz EM, Birdsong WT (2026) Delta opioid receptors on parvalbumin cells are necessary for the convulsant and anxiolytic effects of the delta agonist SNC80. Behav Pharmacol PMID: 42213967

4. Kochan KE, Clements BM, Prince TD, Demery C, White AD, Levitt ES, Traynor JR (2026) A mu-opioid receptor positive allosteric modulator provides opioid-sparing antinociception without enhancing opioid side effects. J Pharmacol Exp Ther  393:104304. PMID: 41875797

5. Demery C, Moore SC, Kochan KE, Li M, Prince TD, Clements BM, Chen Z, Whitaker-Fornek JR, Levitt ES, Anand JP, Traynor JR. (2026) Fentanyl decreases blood oxygen more than furanylfentanyl despite similar effects on breathing. Psychopharmacology PMID: 41646375.

6. Demery C, Moore SC, Levitt ES, Anand JP, Traynor JR (2025) Xylazine exacerbates fentanyl-induced respiratory depression and bradycardia. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 392:103616. PMID: 40543302

[Paper of the Week, International Association for the Study of Pain]

[Catherine Demery was the JPET Highlighted Trainee Author for July 2025]

[Commented on by Baertsch NA, 2025, J Pharmacol Exp Ther]

8. Maletz SN, Reid BT, Baekey DM, Whitaker-Fornek JR, Bateman JT, Arakawa K, Bissonnette JM and Levitt ES (2024) Effect of Positive Allosteric Modulation and Orthosteric Agonism of Dopamine D2-like Receptors on Respiration in Mouse Models of Rett Syndrome. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 328:104314. PMID: 39117159

9. Bateman JT and Levitt ES (2023) Opioid Suppression of an Excitatory Pontomedullary Respiratory Circuit by Convergent Mechanisms. eLife 12:e81119. PMID: 37314062

10. Whitaker-Fornek JR, Jenkins PM and Levitt ES (2023) Inhibitory synaptic transmission is impaired in the Kölliker-Fuse of male, but not female, Rett Syndrome mice. J Neurophysiol 130:1578-1587. PMID: 37965930

11. Dossat AM*, Kokoska MM*, Whitaker-Fornek JR*, Sniffen SE, Kulkarni AS, Levitt ES and Wesson DW (2023) Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors in the gustatory cortex influence food intake. J Neurosci 43:4251-4261. PMID: 37127362

13. Saunders SE, Baekey DM and Levitt ES (2022) Fentanyl effects on respiratory neuron activity in the dorsolateral pons. J Neurophysiol 128:1117-1132. PMID: 36197016

14. Maletz SN*, Reid BT*, Varga AG and Levitt ES (2022) Nucleus tractus solitarius neurons activated by hypercapnia and hypoxia lack mu opioid receptor expression. Front Mol Neurosci 15:932189. PMID: 35898697

15. Varga AG, Whitaker-Fornek JR, Maletz SN and Levitt ES (2022) Activation of Orexin-2 Receptors in the Kölliker-Fuse nucleus of anesthetized mice leads to transient slowing of respiratory rate. Front Physiol 13:977569. PMID: 36406987

20. Tadjalli A, Seven YB, Sharma A, McCurdy CR, Bolser DC, Levitt ES and Mitchell GS (2021) Acute morphine blocks spinal respiratory motor plasticity via long-latency mechanisms that require toll-like receptor 4 signaling J Physiol 599:3771-3797. PMID: 34142718

[Selected as Editor’s Choice]

[Commented on by OMurchu SC and Slyne AD (2021) Opioids, Plasticity and phrenic motor performance:investigating the off-target effects of acute morphine administration.]

21. Varga AG, Reid BT, Kieffer BL and Levitt ES (2020) Differential impact of two critical respiratory centers in opioid-induced respiratory depression in awake mice. J Physiol 598:189-205. PMID:31589332

[Selected as Editor’s Choice and published in a special issue “Experimental Biology 2020” which showcases best papers the journal has published over the last year.]

[Highlighted by a Perspectives article: Garcia AJ and Szujewski CC (2020) Finding inspiration in opioid-induced respiratory depression. J Physiol 598:3.]

[Awards: (1) Journal of Physiology Early Investigator Prize and (2) Department of Pharmacology Walter Oppelt Distinguished Trainee Publication.]

22. Saunders SE and Levitt ES (2020) Kölliker-Fuse/Parabrachial complex mu opioid receptors contribute to fentanyl-induced apnea and respiratory rate depression. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 275:103388. PMID:3195324

23. Kliewer A, Schmiedel F, Sianati S, Bailey A, Bateman JT, Levitt ES, Williams JT, Christie MJ and Schulz S (2019) Phosphorylation-deficient G-protein-biased μ-opioid receptors improve analgesia and diminish tolerance but worsen opioid side effects. Nat Commun 10:367. PMID:30664663

24. Levitt ES and Williams JT (2018) Desensitization and tolerance of mu opioid receptors on pontine Kölliker-Fuse neurons. Mol Pharmacol 93:8-13. PMID:29097440

25. Levitt ES, Abdala AP, Paton JFR, Bissonnette JM and Williams JT (2015) Mu opioid receptor activation hyperpolarizes respiratory-controlling Kölliker-Fuse neurons and suppresses post-inspiratory drive. J Physiol 593:4453-4469. PMID:26175072

[Recommended by Faculty of 1000.]

26. Gantz SC, Levitt ES, Llamosas N, Neve KA and Williams JT (2015) Depression of serotonin synaptic transmission by the dopamine precursor L-DOPA. Cell Reports 12:944-954. PMID:26235617

27. Levitt ES, Hunnicut BJ, Knopp SJ, Williams JT and Bissonnette JM (2013) A selective 5-HT1A receptor agonist improves respiration in a mouse model of Rett syndrome. J Applied Physiol 115:1626-1633. PMID:24092697

28. Levitt ES and Williams JT (2012) Morphine desensitization and cellular tolerance are distinguished in rat locus coeruleus neurons. Mol Pharmacol 82:983-992. PMID:22914548