Figure 6.

OXTR-expressing neurons in the PFC send long-range glutamatergic projections to mesolimbic brain structures. A–C, Left, Schematic of experimental design. BLS applied in NAc, BNST, or PFC was used to activate ChR2-positive axons originating from OXTR-positive neurons in the PFC. Middle, Representative BLS-evoked currents are demonstrated in each of these regions in control conditions (blue), and after bath application of the ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists DNQX and AP5. Right, Average normalized light-evoked currents observed in these regions indicate that efferent input from OXTR-positive PFC neurons is completely blocked by bath application of ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists.