Ghrelin alters the stimulatory effect of cocaine on ethanol intake following mesolimbic or systemic administration.

Emerging evidence suggests that ghrelinergic and dopaminergic signaling interact in the neural control of motivation and ethanol reward. To further investigate a possible interaction between these two neurochemical systems, we examined the impact of ghrelin, cocaine and combined injections of ghrelin with cocaine, on voluntary ethanol intake. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were habituated to an 8% ethanol solution until intakes stabilized.