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Stress reinstates nicotine seeking but not sucrose solution seeking in rats

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Abstract

Rationale: Intermittent footshock stress effectively reinstates extinguished heroin-, cocaine- and alcohol-taking behaviors, but not behaviors previously maintained by food reinforcers. Here we tested further the generality of the phenomenon of stress-induced reinstatement by determining the effect of footshock on reinstatement of operant responding previously maintained by nicotine or palatable sucrose solutions. Methods: Groups of rats were trained to self-administer either nicotine (0.03 mg/kg per infusion, 14 days) or sucrose (10 or 30% w/v, 14–20 days). After extinction of the nicotine- or the sucrose-reinforced behaviors for 5–15 days, the rats were exposed to intermittent footshock stress (5 and 15 min, 0.8 mA) during tests for reinstatement. Results: Footshock reliably reinstated nicotine seeking after extinction of the drug-reinforced behavior. In contrast, the same parameters of footshock stress did not consistently reinstate operant responding previously maintained by sucrose solutions. Conclusions: These and previous data suggest that stressors may be more effective stimuli for reinstatement of behaviors previously maintained by drug reinforcers as compared with non-drug reinforcers.

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Received: 15 October 1998 / Final version: 10 December 1998

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Buczek, Y., Lê, A., Wang, A. et al. Stress reinstates nicotine seeking but not sucrose solution seeking in rats. Psychopharmacology 144, 183–188 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002130050992

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002130050992

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