Pavlovian conditioning with the internal stimulus effects of intravenous nicotine heightens later nicotine taking with variation by dose and sex.

ABSTRACT: We have previously demonstrated that the interoceptive stimulus effects of intravenous nicotine (0.03 mg/kg/inf) can acquire conditioned reinforcing value through appetitive Pavlovian conditioning. In this report, we replicate and extend that work by examining the dose- and sex-generality of this effect. 240 male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into groups defined by infusion dose (0, 0.003, 0.01, or 0.03 mg/kg nicotine). These were further divided into rats who received Paired or Unpaired appetitive conditioning between infusions and sucrose presentations. Interoceptive conditioning took place over 24 daily sessions. The Paired group received 10 trials of response-independent infusions of their assigned nicotine dose followed 30 s afterwards by 4-s access to sucrose. The Unpai

SUBMITTER: Barrett ST 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11829035 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature