The current study sought to investigate the role of braincatalase (CAT) on the increased ethanol consumption observed in low-level lead(Pb) exposed rat. Periadolescent male Wistar rats developmentally exposed to220 ppm Pb were subjected to voluntary ethanol intake 2 h/day for 28 daysaccording to the following scheme: days 1-4: 2%; days 5-8: 4%; days 9-12: 6%;days 13-16 8%; days 17-20: 10%. Starting on day 20, rats were injected dailywith vehicle or 0.25 mg/kg of 3-amino 1,2,4 triazole (AT) (an inhibitor of CATactivity) 5 h before the daily 10% ethanol choice session. Rats were thensacrificed, blood collected, and brain regions harvested to measure brain CATactivity. We demonstrated that pretreatment with AT blunted voluntary ETintake, as well as CAT activity in the cerebellum and hippocampus of Pb-exposedrats. These results suggest a critical role of CAT in voluntary ethanol intakeand open up new avenues for Pb/ethanol interactions.