Adolescent binge drinking alters adult brain neurotransmitter gene expression, behavior, brain regional volumes, and neurochemistry in XXXX .

@entity1 @entity167 @entity19 @entity1995 @entity935 @entity19641 @entity22386 @entity4207 @entity73066 @entity1068 @entity2359 @entity934
BACKGROUND: Binge drinking is common in @entity1 adolescents. The adolescent brain is undergoing structural maturation and has a unique sensitivity to @entity167 @entity2359 . Therefore, adolescent binge @entity1068 may have long-term effects on the adult brain that alter brain structure and behaviors that are relevant to @entity167 -use disorders. METHODS: To determine whether adolescent @entity1068 (AE) binge drinking alters the adult brain, male C57BL/6 @entity19 were treated with either water or @entity1068 during adolescence (5 g/kg/d, i.g., postnatal days @entity22386 to @entity73066 ) and assessed during adulthood ( @entity19641 to P88). An array of neurotransmitter-specific genes, behavioral tests (i.e., reversal learning, prepulse inhibition, and open field), and postmortem brain structure using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and immunohistochemistry, were employed to assess persistent alterations in adult brain. RESULTS: At @entity1995 , 24 hours after AE binge, many neurotransmitter genes, particularly cholinergic and dopaminergic, were reduced by @entity1068 treatment. Interestingly, @entity935 receptor type 4 mRNA was reduced and confirmed using immunohistochemistry. Normal control maturation ( @entity1995 to P88) resulted in decreased neurotransmitter mRNA, e.g., an average decrease of 56%. Following AE treatment, adults showed greater gene expression reductions than controls, averaging 73%. Adult spatial learning assessed in the Morris water maze was not changed by AE treatment, but reversal learning experiments revealed deficits. Assessment of adult brain region volumes using MRI indicated that the olfactory bulb and basal forebrain were smaller in adults following AE. Immunohistochemical analyses found reduced basal forebrain area and fewer basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent binge @entity1068 treatment reduces adult neurotransmitter gene expression, particularly cholinergic genes, reduces basal forebrain and olfactory bulb volumes, and causes a reduction in the density of basal forebrain @entity934 neurons. Loss of cholinergic neurons and forebrain structure could underlie adult reversal @entity4207 following adolescent binge drinking.
