Differential effects of withdrawal from intermittent and continuous nicotine exposure on reward deficit and somatic aspects of nicotine withdrawal and expression of α4β2* nAChRs in Wistar male rats

During non-contingent nicotine exposure, the temporal pattern of nicotine delivery differentially affected thresholds and somatic signs of withdrawal. Upregulation of α4β2* nAChRs was brain site-specific and depended on both temporal pattern and contingency of nicotine exposure.