REDUCED EVOKED RELEASE OF ACETYLCHOLINE IN THE RODENT NEOCORTEX FOLLOWING TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

Neocortical acetylcholine (ACh) release was examined in awake, freely- moving rats at 14 days following lateral controlled cortical impact. E xtracellular ACh was measured prior to and after an intraperitoneal ad ministration of scopolamine, which evokes ACh release by blocking auto receptors. At 14 days post-injury there was a significant reduction in scopolamine-evoked ACh release. The data suggest that neocortical cho linergic neurotransmission is chronically compromised, and may contrib ute to post-traumatic memory deficits.