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Effects of Toxoplasma gondii infection on anxiety, depression and ghrelin level in male rats

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection on anxiety, depression and ghrelin level in male rats. Twenty four male rats were assessed in two equal groups. T. gondii tachyzoite (ip) were injected in infected group and control group received (2 ml) physiological serum (ip). Elevated plus Maze and swimming tests were used to assess anxiety and depression in rats respectively. The ghrelin and T. gondii IgG serum levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay kits. The Student’s t test and Pearson correlation coefficient were used. The ghrelin serum level was significantly lower in the infected rats than control (P = 0.03). There were no significant differences in the depression and anxiety behavior between two groups. However, here were no significant correlations between ghrelin level and anxiety or depression in rats. It seems that latent T. gondii infection decreases the ghrelin serum level but does not change anxiety and depression like behaviors.

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Acknowledgments

we are grateful to Dr. Mohammad Reza Ibrahimi Dep. Of Psychology, School of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran for providing Elevated plus maze for anxiety measurement. This research was supported by the research project of AJA University of Medical Sciences (591107).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Zareian Parvin, Mirzaii Dizgah Iraj & Khodabandehloo Fatemeh

  2. Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Shaddel Minoo

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  1. Zareian Parvin
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  2. Mirzaii Dizgah Iraj
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  3. Shaddel Minoo
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  4. Khodabandehloo Fatemeh
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Correspondence to Shaddel Minoo.

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Parvin, Z., Iraj, M.D., Minoo, S. et al. Effects of Toxoplasma gondii infection on anxiety, depression and ghrelin level in male rats. J Parasit Dis 40, 688–693 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-014-0561-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-014-0561-0

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