(Biala and Weglinska, 2004; Biala and Budzynska, 2010). There are, however, other behavioral measures that clearly illustrate a common molecular interaction between these two substances. In this respect, rats with prior exposure to nicotine show increased ethanol consumption (Blomqvist et al., 1996); furthermore, ethanol-induced locomotor activity and accumbal DA release is blocked by mecamylamine, indicating a pivotal role of nAChRs in ethanol's behavioral effects (Blomqvist et al., 1992; Larsson et al., 2002). In addition, drugs acting through nAChRs, including a partial agonist (varenicline) and non-selective antagonist (MEC), reduce ethanol consumption in both rodents and humans (Le et al., 2000; Steensland et al., 2007; McKee et al., 2009).
