The role of dopamine in Toxoplasma-induced behavioural alterations in mice: an ethological and ethopharmacological study
Language English Country England, Great Britain Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PubMed
16882355
DOI
10.1017/s0031182006000886
PII: S0031182006000886
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- MeSH
- Breeding MeSH
- Behavior, Animal * MeSH
- Dopamine physiology MeSH
- Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors administration & dosage MeSH
- Injections, Intraperitoneal MeSH
- Locomotion MeSH
- Brain physiopathology MeSH
- Mice, Inbred BALB C MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Exploratory Behavior * MeSH
- Piperazines administration & dosage MeSH
- Toxoplasma * MeSH
- Toxoplasmosis physiopathology MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Male MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Dopamine MeSH
- Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors MeSH
- Piperazines MeSH
- vanoxerine MeSH Browser
Toxoplasma gondii, a cosmopolitan protozoan parasite, is known to induce behavioural alterations in rodents and may exert an effect on human personality and behaviour. The mechanism of parasite-induced alterations in host behaviour has not been described, but it was hypothesized that development of Toxoplasma tissue cysts in the brain could affect the dopaminergic neuromodulatory system. In this study, we tested the effect of latent Toxoplasma infection on mouse behaviour associated with activity of the dopaminergic system, i.e. locomotion in a novel environment and exploration test. Additionally, we examined the behavioural response of Toxoplasma-infected mice to a selective dopamine uptake inhibitor, GBR 12909. In both genders, Toxoplasma infection decreased locomotion in the open field. Infected females displayed an increased level of exploration in the holeboard test. GBR 12909 induced suppression in holeboard-exploration in the infected males, but had an opposite effect on the controls. These results suggest an association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and changes in the dopaminergic neuromodulatory system.
References provided by Crossref.org
Thirty years of studying latent toxoplasmosis: behavioural, physiological, and health insights
Le Petit Machiavellian Prince: Effects of Latent Toxoplasmosis on Political Beliefs and Values
Does Toxoplasma infection increase sexual masochism and submissiveness? Yes and no
Toxoplasma gondii decreases the reproductive fitness in mice
Effects of toxoplasma on human behavior
