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Updated: Jan 29, 2026
05:12
Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder
Published on: June 23, 2023
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Persistent Alterations of Accumbal Cholinergic Interneurons and Cognitive Dysfunction after Adolescent Intermittent
E Galaj1, B T Kipp1, S B Floresco2
1Department of Psychology, Binghamton University of the State University of New York, New York, USA.
Neuroscience
|February 12, 2019
Summary
Adolescent binge drinking impairs memory and decision-making in adult rats by damaging brain cells. This study reveals long-lasting cognitive deficits and cholinergic neuron loss in the nucleus accumbens following adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Adolescent binge drinking increases the risk of adult alcohol use disorders.
- Understanding alcohol-induced brain damage and cognitive deficits is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the effects of adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) exposure on cognitive functions and the cholinergic system in the nucleus accumbens (NAc).
- Examine these effects in both male and female rats.
Main Methods:
- Rats were exposed to ethanol or water on a binge-like intermittent schedule during adolescence (postnatal days P25-57).
- Cognitive functions were assessed in adulthood using social recognition and probabilistic reversal learning tasks.
- Cholinergic interneuron populations in the NAc were quantified.
Main Results:
- AIE exposure impaired social recognition memory in rats.
- Both male and female rats exhibited behavioral inflexibility in the reversal learning task.
- AIE exposure reduced the number of cholinergic interneurons in the NAc in both sexes.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure leads to lasting cognitive-behavioral deficits.
- Pathologies in accumbal cholinergic interneurons are linked to these deficits.
- Findings suggest potential cortico-striatal hypofunction contributing to cognitive impairments.
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