RESUMEN

Neurological symptoms have been associated with Leishmania infection, however little is known about how the nervous system is affected in leishmaniasis. This work aimed to analyze parasitic load, production of cytokines/neurotrophins in the prefrontal cortex and behavioral changes in BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania amazonensis. At 2 and 4months post-infection, infected mice showed a decrease in IFN-γ, IL-1, IL-6, IL-4, IL-10 cytokines and BDNF and NGF neurotrophins in prefrontal cortex associated with increased anxiety behavior. Parasite DNA was found in brain of all animals at 4months post-infection, when the levels of IBA-1 (activated macrophage/microglia marker) and TNF-α was increased in the prefrontal cortex. However TNF-α returned to normal levels at 6months post-infection suggesting a neuroprotective mechanism.

Asunto(s)

Corteza Cerebral/metabolismo , Citocinas/metabolismo , Leishmaniasis/complicaciones , Leishmaniasis/patología , Trastornos Mentales/etiología , Factores de Crecimiento Nervioso/metabolismo , Animales , Proteínas de Unión al Calcio/genética , Proteínas de Unión al Calcio/metabolismo , Corteza Cerebral/parasitología , ADN Protozoario/genética , ADN Protozoario/metabolismo , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Conducta Exploratoria , Regulación de la Expresión Génica , Leishmania mexicana/genética , Leishmania mexicana/patogenicidad , Leishmaniasis/microbiología , Masculino , Aprendizaje por Laberinto/fisiología , Trastornos Mentales/parasitología , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Proteínas de Microfilamentos/genética , Proteínas de Microfilamentos/metabolismo , Piel/patología , Factores de Tiempo