Figure 6.

The effect of varenicline on acute ethanol stimulation and the acquisition of ethanol-induced locomotor sensitization. Shown are means ± SEM distance traveled during the first 5 min of the 15 min session in cm. Labels along x-axis show acquisition group (pretreatment + treatment) and day 13 treatment (in parentheses). (A) Effect of varenicline in saline-treated mice (first 4 bars) and on the acute response to ethanol (last 4 bars); data are corrected for baseline activity level (day 3 minus day 2); (B) Effect of varenicline during the sensitization acquisition period in repeatedly saline-treated mice (first 4 bars) and repeatedly ethanol-treated mice (last 4 bars); change in response is represented as day 12 minus day 3; (C) Response to ethanol challenge in groups that had received various doses of varenicline during the acquisition period, but not prior to this ethanol challenge on day 13; data are corrected for baseline activity level (day 13 minus day 2). SAL= 0.9% saline; VARx = x mg/kg varenicline tartrate. E2 = 2 g/kg ethanol. **: p<0.01; ***: p<0.001 for the comparison between groups receiving ethanol and saline during acquisition for each varenicline dose. ###: p<0.001 for comparison to the VAR 0 + E2 (E2) group.