Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors mediate some of the rewarding and motivational effects of
ethanol, including relapses. Relapses are common in drug addicts during abstinence when exposure to any stressor ensues. However, the role of
nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the
ethanol- and stress-induced reinstatement of
ethanol-induced conditioned place preference has not yet been explored. Therefore, the present study investigated the influence of
mecamylamine, a
nicotinic acetylcholine receptors antagonist on acquisition, expression, and reinstatement of
ethanol-induced conditioned place preference in adult male Swiss mice. The results revealed that
mecamylamine (0.1-10 µg/mouse, intracerebroventricularly) dose dependently prevented the development, expression, and reinstatement of
ethanol-induced conditioned place preference. Further, acute treatment with
mecamylamine blocked the restraint stress and forced swim stress-induced reinstatement of
ethanol-induced conditioned place preference. All of these treatments had no influence on the locomotor activity. Therefore, it is concluded that
mecamylamine blocks the acquisition, expression and reinstatement of conditioned reinforcing effects of
ethanol without per se reinforcing or aversive influence. This ability of
mecamylamine might be a potential advantage in the treatment of
alcoholism.