Fig. 3 |.
In experiment 1, nicotine significantly enhanced goal-tracking in response to an ethanol-associated cue relative to saline-treated male rats. Regardless of previous history with ethanol (naive [A] vs exposed [B]), nicotine enhanced the tendency to approach and interact with the reward delivery apparatus (‘goal-tracking’) during an 8 s lever extension (CS+) that immediately preceded delivery of a retractable bottle that contained 20% ethanol. This enhancement of goal‐tracking was largest in response to the CS+, though nicotine-treated rats approached the reward receptacle more than saline‐treated rats during the CS− as well (C and D). The enhancement of goal-tracking was lost when nicotine was removed, indicating that the behavioral effects were likely due to acute administration of nicotine.
