TY - JOUR
T1 - Development of Anxiolytic and Depression-like Behavior in Mice Infected with Mycobacterium lepraemurium
AU - Ponce-Regalado, M. D.
AU - Salazar-Juárez, A.
AU - Rojas-Espinosa, O.
AU - Contis-Montes de Oca, A.
AU - Hurtado-Alvarado, G.
AU - Arce-Paredes, P.
AU - Pérez-Sánchez, G.
AU - Pavón, L.
AU - Girón-Pérez, M. I.
AU - Hernández-Pando, R.
AU - Alvarez-Sánchez, M. E.
AU - Becerril-Villanueva, Enrique
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 IBRO
PY - 2022/6/15
Y1 - 2022/6/15
N2 - Murine leprosy is a systemic infectious disease of mice caused by Mycobacterium lepraemurium (MLM) in which the central nervous system (CNS) is not infected; nevertheless, diseased animals show measurable cognitive alterations. For this reason, in this study, we explored the neurobehavioral changes in mice chronically infected with MLM. BALB/c mice were infected with MLM, and 120 days later, the alterations in mice were evaluated based on immunologic, histologic, endocrine, neurochemical, and behavioral traits. We found increases in the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 associated with high bacillary loads. We also found increase in the serum levels of corticosterone, epinephrine, and norepinephrine in the adrenal gland, suggesting neuroendocrine deregulation. Mice exhibited depression-like behavior in the tail suspension and forced swimming tests and anxiolytic behavior in the open field and elevated plus maze tests. The neurobehavioral alterations of mice were correlated with the histologic damage in the prefrontal cortex, ventral hippocampus, and amygdala, as well as with a blood–brain barrier disruption in the hippocampus. These results reveal an interrelated response of the neuroimmune-–endocrinological axis in unresolved chronic infections that result in neurocognitive deterioration.
AB - Murine leprosy is a systemic infectious disease of mice caused by Mycobacterium lepraemurium (MLM) in which the central nervous system (CNS) is not infected; nevertheless, diseased animals show measurable cognitive alterations. For this reason, in this study, we explored the neurobehavioral changes in mice chronically infected with MLM. BALB/c mice were infected with MLM, and 120 days later, the alterations in mice were evaluated based on immunologic, histologic, endocrine, neurochemical, and behavioral traits. We found increases in the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 associated with high bacillary loads. We also found increase in the serum levels of corticosterone, epinephrine, and norepinephrine in the adrenal gland, suggesting neuroendocrine deregulation. Mice exhibited depression-like behavior in the tail suspension and forced swimming tests and anxiolytic behavior in the open field and elevated plus maze tests. The neurobehavioral alterations of mice were correlated with the histologic damage in the prefrontal cortex, ventral hippocampus, and amygdala, as well as with a blood–brain barrier disruption in the hippocampus. These results reveal an interrelated response of the neuroimmune-–endocrinological axis in unresolved chronic infections that result in neurocognitive deterioration.
KW - anxiolytic behavior
KW - central nervous system
KW - chronic infection
KW - depression-like behavior
KW - murine leprosy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85129484631&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.03.021
DO - 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.03.021
M3 - Artículo
C2 - 35447197
AN - SCOPUS:85129484631
SN - 0306-4522
VL - 493
SP - 15
EP - 30
JO - Neuroscience
JF - Neuroscience
ER -