Distinct eLPBChAT projections for methamphetamine anxiety and relapse

Choline acetyltransferase-positive neurons in the external lateral parabrachial nucleus (eLPBChAT) send projections to PKCδ-positive (PKCδ+) neurons in lateral portion of central nucleus of amygdala (lCeAPKCδ) and oval portion of bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (ovBNSTPKCδ), forming eLPBChAT–lCeAPKCδ and eLPBChAT–ovBNSTPKCδ pathways. At least in part, the eLPBChAT neurons positively innervate lCeAPKCδ and ovBNSTPKCδ through regulating synaptic elements of presynaptic acetylcholine (Ach) release and postsynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Methamphetamine (METH) withdrawal anxiety and METH-primed reinstatement of conditioned place preference (CPP) recruit eLPBChAT–lCeAPKCδ pathway and eLPBChAT–ovBNSTPKCδ pathway in male METH-exposed mice, respectively. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.