Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) expression is persistently decreased in the basal forebrain following adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) exposure.

<p>(A) Profile counts revealed a 24% (±7%) decrease of ChAT+IR cells in the medial septum/vertical limb of the diagonal band (Ch1/Ch2) of adolescent rats (P56) 24 hours following the conclusion of AIE that persisted into adulthood (P220 [19%±3%]), relative to CONs. Representative photomicrographs of ChAT+IR cells in Ch1/Ch2 of CON- and AIE-exposed basal forebrain samples from P220 subjects. (B) Quantification of ChAT immunoreactivity in the horizontal limb of the diagonal band/nucleus basalis magnocellularis (Ch3/Ch4) revealed that AIE reduced ChAT expression by 31% (±4%) at P56 that persisted to P220 (19%±3%), relative to CONs. Representative photomicrographs of ChAT+IR cells in Ch3/Ch4 of CON- and AIE-exposed basal forebrain samples from P220 subjects. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. * indicates <i>p</i><0.05 and ** indicates <i>p</i><0.01, relative to CON rats.