Fig. 3: Chemogenetic activation of PVN^OXT neurons decreased METH-CPP expression via central OXTRs.

A–E Chemogenetic activation of PVN^OXT neurons on METH-CPP test in wild-type mice. A Schematic of virus injection. Scale bar: 100 μm. B Experimental timeline. C Effects of chemogenetic activation of PVN^OXT neurons during the test (n = 9 Saline+hM3Dq+Vehicle/7 Saline+hM3Dq+CNO/8 Saline+mCherry+CNO/12 METH+hM3Dq+Vehicle/12 METH+hM3Dq+CNO/7 METH+mCherry+CNO, Two-way ANOVA). D Overlap of mCherry (red) and OXT (green). Scale bar: 50 μm. E Percentage of mCherry and OXT co-localizations (n = 3, two-sided Student’s t test). F–J Intraperitoneal injection of OXTRs antagonist before chemogenetic activation of PVN^OXT neurons on METH-CPP test in OXT-Cre mice. F Schematic of virus injection. Scale bar: 100 μm. G Experimental timeline. H Effects of intraperitoneal injection of OXTRs antagonist before chemogenetic activation of PVN^OXT neurons during the test (n = 9 Saline+mCherry+Vehicle/11 METH+mCherry+CNO/10 METH+hM3Dq+CNO/6 METH + L366, 899 + hM3Dq+CNO, One-way ANOVA). I Overlap of mCherry (red) and OXT (green). Scale bar: 50 μm. J Percentage of mCherry and OXT co-localizations (n = 6, two-sided Student’s t test). K Schematic diagram of spontaneous action potential firing in mCherry⁺ neurons within the PVN incubated with CNO. Statistical analysis of electrophysiological recordings in mCherry⁺ cells (L, n = 3, two-sided Student’s t test), hM3Dq-mCherry⁺ cells (M, n = 3, two-sided Student’s t test). N Overlap of mCherry (red) and cFos (green). Scale bar: 50 μm. O Percentage of mCherry and cFos co-localizations (n = 5, One-way ANOVA). P Locomotor activity (n = 5, two-sided Student’s t test). *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.