The role of laterodorsal tegmental acetylchone in neurochemical and behavioral measures of methamphetamine reward

Methamphetamine (METH) reward is largely mediated by dopamine (DA) release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). DA neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) receive cholinergic input from the laterodorsal (LDT) and pedunculopontine tegmental nuclei (PPT), which regulate DA firing, release, and psychostimulant behaviors. However, it is unclear whether METH acts through these mesopontine regions to drive neurochemical changes or reward. This study examined the role of LDT and PPT in METH-induced alterations in acetylcholine (ACh) and DA within the mesolimbic pathway and assessed whether ACh projections from these nuclei contribute to METH reward.