Age-related changes in cerebral congenital toxoplasmosis: Histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation.

Autor: Saad AE; Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt; Medical Parasitology subunit, Pathology Department, College of Medicine, Jouf University, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: abeerezzat62@gmail.com., Ashour DS; Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt., Dawood LM; Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt., El-Shorbagy SH; Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of neuroimmunology [J Neuroimmunol] 2020 Nov 15; Vol. 348, pp. 577384. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Sep 03.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2020.577384
Abstrakt: Congenital toxoplasmosis is a widespread worldwide disease producing varying degrees of damage to the fetus including ocular and neurological impairment. However, the underlying mechanisms are not yet clear. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the progress of congenital cerebral toxoplasmosis in experimentally infected offspring animal model at different age groups till become adults. To fulfill this aim, the offspring of Me49 T. gondii infected pregnant mice were divided into groups; embryo, infant, young and adult phases. Blood and brain samples were collected for further hormonal and histopathological studies and immunohistochemical staining of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and synaptophysin (SYN). Our results showed several encephalitic changes in the infected groups ranging from gliosis to reduced cortical cell number and fibrinoid degeneration of the brain. We showed increased expression of GFAP and SYN indicating activation of astrocytes and modification of the synaptic function, respectively. These changes started intrauterine following congenital infection and increased progressively afterward. Moreover, infected mice had elevated corticosterone levels. In conclusion, the current study provided new evidences for the cellular changes especially in the infected embryo and highlighted the role of GFAP and SYN that may be used as indicators for T. gondii-related neuropathy.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.
(Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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