Induction of multiple reinstatements of ethanol- and sucrose-seeking behavior in Long-Evans rats by the α-2 adrenoreceptor antagonist yohimbine.

Rationale: Developing models to efficiently explore the mechanisms by which stress can mediate reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior is crucial to the development of new pharmacotherapies for alcohol use disorders.

Objectives: We examined the effects of multiple reinstatement sessions using the pharmacological stressor, yohimbine, in ethanol- and sucrose-seeking rats in order to develop a more efficient model of stress-induced reinstatement.

Methods: Long-Evans rats were trained to self-administer 10% ethanol with a sucrose-fading procedure, 20% ethanol without a sucrose-fading procedure, or 5% sucrose in 30-min operant self-administration sessions, followed by extinction training.