Fig 4. Long-term sucrose intake (12 weeks) increases α4(nonα6)β2* nAChR and decreases α6β2* nAChR levels in rat nucleus accumbens (NAc).

Quantitative analyses of α4(nonα6)β2* nAChR binding using ¹²⁵I-Epibatidine binding in the absence and presence of α-CtxMII show show a significant increase in α4(nonα6)β2* nAChRs (A and B) with a decrease in α6β2* nAChRs (C and D) after short-term (4 week) and long-term (12 week) sucrose exposure in the intermittent-access two-bottle choice paradigm. Dopamine transporter (DAT) as determined by ¹²⁵I-RTI-121 binding does not show any significant change short-term (4 week) and long-term (12 week) (E and F respectively). Each value represents the mean _ SEM of four animals per group. Significance of difference from vehicle-treated rats, ****p<0.0001, **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05.