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. 2022 May 3;17(5):e0267345. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267345

Fig 7. Laser self-stimulation of CRF-containing neurons in NAc and CeA, but not BNST.

Fig 7

A) ChR2 rats could self-stimulate laser to excite CRF-containing neurons by touching a designated Laser spout to earn 3sec illuminations, whereas touching an Inactive spout delivered nothing. NAc ChR2 rats as an entire group demonstrated significant self-stimulation across all 3 days of testing (n = 7). NAc ChR2 individuals that met criteria for laser self-stimulation on day 1 (n = 5, ChR2 SS) continued to self-stimulate on days 2–3 by touching their Laser-spout >400% more than the Inactive-spout. B) CeA ChR2 rats as an entire group showed only a nonsignificant trend toward laser self-stimulation (n = 8). However, CeA ChR2 individuals that met self-stimulation criteria on day 1 (n = 6; ChR2 SS) continued to self-stimulate on days 2–3. touching their Laser-spout 400% more than the Inactive-spout. By contrast, control NAc eYFP (n = 6) and CeA eYFP rats (n = 6) failed to self-stimulate, and merely touched randomly at low rates. C) BNST ChR2 rats failed as a group to self-stimulate for laser excitation of CRF-containing neurons (n = 8) across all 3 test days, similar to eYFP controls (n = 7). No BNST ChR2 individuals met criteria for self-stimulation on any day. Means and SEM reported. *p <0.05, **p<0.01.