Venlafaxine reduces sign-tracking in male Sprague-Dawley rats

Sign-tracking, the behavior of approaching and interacting with cues for appetitive outcomes in classical conditioning, has been implicated in relapse to drug addiction. In this experimental study, we examined the serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor venlafaxine to determine whether it was effective in reducing sign-tracking in an animal model (Sprague-Dawley male rats, N = 35) of sign-tracking using a retractable lever as a conditioned stimulus and sucrose pellets as an unconditioned stimulus. After training, male rats were administered venlafaxine (0, 30, or 60 mg/kg) intraperitoneally and tested for sign-tracking and goal-tracking (approach of the site of unconditioned stimulus delivery) behaviors. Venlafaxine was significantly effective in reducing sign-tracking in animals previously identified as primarily sign-trackers and intermediates, and it also reduced goal-tracking in animals who primarily goal-tracked. Venlafaxine may be effective in reducing cue-driven approach and interaction behavior that may contribute to relapse in patients rehabilitating from drug use. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).