A) Microcircuits and cell populations in the ventromedial hypothalamus. B) PBN projections to the CEA. C) Amygdala microcircuits and subnuclei. Known microcircuits discussed in the present review are noted; dashed black arrows denote projections between amygdala subnuclei. Forked lines indicate glutamatergic projections whereas crossed lines indicate GABAergic projections. BLA, basolateral amygdala; c, central division of the ventromedial hypothalamus; CEAm, medial subdivision of the central amygdala; CEAl, lateral subdivision of the central amygdala; CGRP, calcitonin gene-related peptide; CGRP-R, calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor; dm, dorsal medial division of the ventromedial hypothalamus; DVC, dorsal vagal complex; ESR1, estrogen receptor; Hyp, hypothalamus; ITC, intercalated cell nuclei; ITCd, dorsal intercalated cell nuclei; ITCl, lateral intercalated cell nuclei; ITCm, medial intercalated cell nuclei; MOR, mu opioid receptor; OT, oxytocin; PAG, periaqueductal gray; PBNel, external lateral subdivision of the PBN; PKCd, protein kinase C delta; PV, parvalbumin; SF1, steroidogenic factor 1; SOM, somatostatin; Tac2, tachykinin 2; vl, ventrolateral division of the ventromedial hypothalamus; VMH, ventromedial hypothalamus.