Exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mimics the choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) reductions associated with adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) exposure.

<p>(A) Profile counts in the medial septum/vertical limb of the diagonal band (Ch1/Ch2) of young adult rats (P80) revealed a significant reduction of ChAT+IR cells in AIE- (29%±6%), CON+LPS- (27%±6%), and AIE+LPS-exposed (25%±6%) rats, relative to CONs. Representative photomicrographs of ChAT+IR cells in Ch1/Ch2 of CON+LPS- and AIE+LPS-exposed rats. (B) Profile counts in the horizontal limb of the diagonal band/nucleus basalis magnocellularis (Ch3/Ch4) of young adult rats (P80) revealed a significant reduction of ChAT+IR cells in AIE- (36%±7%), CON+LPS- (36%±7%), and AIE+LPS-exposed (30%±7%) rats, relative to CONs. Representative photomicrographs of ChAT+IR cells in Ch3/Ch4 of CON+LPS- and AIE+LPS-exposed rats. Although LPS did not potentiate AIE-induced decreases of ChAT expression, it did result in a similar reduction in CON animals. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. * indicates <i>p</i><0.05 and ** indicates <i>p</i><0.01, relative to CON rats.