An excitatory circuit in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray drives hypometabolic state during acute systemic inflammation

neurons to the nucleus tractus solitarius mediate these hypometabolic pathophysiological effects. Taken together, our findings reveal a vlPAG excitatory circuit that regulates hypometabolic responses to systemic inflammation, providing potential therapeutic targets for mitigating severe sepsis-induced hypothermia and cardiovascular dysfunction.