Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Eells, Jeffrey B.

Committee Member

Varela-Stokes, Andrea S.

Committee Member

Carr, Russell

Date of Degree

5-7-2016

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Infectious Disease

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Veterinary Medicine

Department

Veterinary Medical Science Program

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii infection is common in humans and is a significant risk factor for developing the disease schizophrenia. Genetic risk factors are likely required for the disease of schizophrenia to develop. Nurr1 – heterozygous (+/-) mice and wild-type (+/+) mice were evaluated using immune activation of astrocytes within the prefrontal cortex, dopamine levels within the striatum, and measuring the acoustic startle response reaction time by using prepulse inhibition (PPI). T. gondii infected heterozygous (+/-) mice exhibited increased GFAP expression within the prefrontal cortex. Dopamine levels within the striatum were measured and T. gondii infected wild-type (+/+) mice exhibited increased dopamine levels. The acoustic startle response reaction time was measured using PPI and T. gondii infected mice exhibited slower reaction times when compared to controls. These data demonstrate that the Nurr1 (+/-) genotype predisposes mice to T. gondii-induced alterations in behaviors that involve dopamine neurotransmission and are associated with symptoms of schizophrenia.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/16636

Download

Share

COinS