Anti-NMDA receptor autoantibodies and associated neurobehavioral pathology in mice are dependent on age of first exposure to Toxoplasma gondii.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Toxoplasma gondii is a pathogen implicated in psychiatric disorders. As elevated antibodies to T. gondii are also present in non-symptomatic individuals, we hypothesized that the age during first exposure to the pathogen may affect symptom manifestation. We tested this hypothesis by evaluating neurobehavioral abnormalities and the immune response in mice following adolescent or adult T. gondii infection.

Methods

Mice were infected with T. gondii at postnatal day 33 (adolescent/juvenile) or 61 (adult). At 8weeks post-infection (wpi), pre-pulse inhibition of the acoustic startle (PPI) in mice administered MK-801 (0.1 and 0.3mg/kg) and amphetamine (5 and 10mg/kg) was assessed. Peripheral (anti-T. gondii, C1q-associated IgG and anti-GLUN2 antibodies) and central (C1q

SUBMITTER: Kannan G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5506683 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature