Nicotine administration (0.2mg/kg and 0.8mg/kg) significantly increases ethanol consumption. Two-way ANOVA of ethanol consumption comparing the 0.8mg/kg nicotine and vehicle treated groups revealed an overall main effect of pretreatment [F(1,315)=114.2, p<0.001], an overall main effect of session [F(14,315)=2.1, p<0.05], but no overall significant interaction (pretreatment × session) [F(14,315)=1.4, n.s.]. Post hoc analysis found significant differences in ethanol consumption starting from session 3 (Figure 3). Two-way ANOVA of active lever presses revealed a significant effect of pretreatment [F(1,292=11.4, p<0.01], a significant interaction between pretreatment × session [F(14,292) =2.1, p<0.05] and a significant interaction of pretreatment × session [F(14,292)=2.1, p<0.05]. Post hoc analysis found significant differences in active pressing in 11 of the 15 sessions. The amount of ethanol self-administered in each group significantly correlated with BECs (T test; p<0.001, data not shown). A two-way ANOVA of ethanol consumption comparing the 0.2mg/kg nicotine and vehicle treated group revealed an overall main effect of pretreatment [F(1,84)=5.4, p< 0.05] but no overall main effect of session [F(7,84)=1.04, n.s.] nor significant interaction [F(7,84)=0.3, n.s.]. Post hoc analysis found significant differences in ethanol consumption between the nicotine and saline treated groups (Table 1).
