Mice were implanted with a dual cannulae system (Plastics One, Roanoke, VA) to bilaterally target the mouse posterior VTA (AP-3.2, ML±0.75, DV-4.5mm from bregma and dura). Dummy cannulae and dust caps fitted the length of the cannula while VTA dual injectors protruded 0.1mm past the cannula. Other groups of mice were implanted with a unilateral VTA cannula and an ipsilateral microdialysis guide cannula (CMA7, Harvard Apparatus, Holliston, MA) targeting the NAc shell (AP+1.7, ML-0.7, DV-4.0mm from bregma and dura). On test days, doses of the CRF-R1 antagonist CP376395 (0.3–0.6µg, Tocris, Ellisville, MO) or CRF-R2 antagonist astressin2B (0.25–0.5µg, Tocris, Ellisville, MO) were freshly dissolved in an artificial cerebral spinal fluid (aCSF) vehicle (0.2µl infused at 0.1µl/min). Doses were chosen based on previous microinjection procedures (Hwa et al. 2013 (link), Boyson et al. 2014 (link)). EtOH and H2O were given to animals 10 min post-infusion. After testing, mice were intracardiacally perfused with 0.9% saline and 4% paraformaldehyde, followed by brain removal. Coronal sections were Nissl stained to check placement of guide cannulae. Animals with incorrect placements into target sites were excluded from analysis.