Dimethyl itaconate ameliorates the deficits of goal-directed behavior in Toxoplasma gondii infected mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The neurotrophic parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) has been implicated as a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. However, there is only limited information concerning its underlying mechanism and therapeutic strategy. Here, we investigated the effects of T. gondii chronic infection on the goal-directed cognitive behavior in mice. Moreover, we evaluated the preventive and therapeutic effect of dimethyl itaconate on the behavior deficits induced by the parasite.

Methods

The infection model was established by orally infecting the cysts of T. gondii. Dimethyl itaconate was intraperitoneally administered before or after the infection. Y-maze and temporal order memory (TOM) tests were used to evaluate the prefrontal cortex-dependent behavior performance. Gol

SUBMITTER: Wu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10231842 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature