Testosterone Acts Within the Medial Amygdala of Rats to Reduce Innate Fear to Predator Odor Akin to the Effects of Toxoplasma gondii Infection
Rats infected with the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii exhibit a reduced aversion to cat odor. This behavioral change is thought to increase trophic transmission of the parasite. Infected male rats also show a greater testicular synthesis of testosterone and epigenetic change in arginine vasopressin wit...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00630/full |
| _version_ | 1819044755893387264 |
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| author | Dhiraj Kumar Singh Shantala Arundathi Hari Dass Samira Abdulai-Saiku Ajai Vyas |
| author_facet | Dhiraj Kumar Singh Shantala Arundathi Hari Dass Samira Abdulai-Saiku Ajai Vyas |
| author_sort | Dhiraj Kumar Singh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rats infected with the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii exhibit a reduced aversion to cat odor. This behavioral change is thought to increase trophic transmission of the parasite. Infected male rats also show a greater testicular synthesis of testosterone and epigenetic change in arginine vasopressin within the medial amygdala. Here, we show that exogenous supply of testosterone within MeA of uninfected castrates recapitulates reduction in innate fear akin to behavioral change attributed to the parasite. We also show that castration post establishment of chronic infection precludes changes in fear and medial amygdala arginine vasopressin in the infected male rats. These observations support the role of gonadal hormones and pursuant neuroendocrine changes in mediating the loss of fear in the infected rats. This work also demonstrates that testosterone acting specifically within the medial amygdala sufficiently explains reduced defensive behaviors often observed during the appetitive component of reproductive behaviors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T10:17:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f8766a5885064cd89258a60edfb81009 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T10:17:44Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-f8766a5885064cd89258a60edfb810092022-12-21T19:07:32ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402020-07-011110.3389/fpsyt.2020.00630520876Testosterone Acts Within the Medial Amygdala of Rats to Reduce Innate Fear to Predator Odor Akin to the Effects of Toxoplasma gondii InfectionDhiraj Kumar SinghShantala Arundathi Hari DassSamira Abdulai-SaikuAjai VyasRats infected with the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii exhibit a reduced aversion to cat odor. This behavioral change is thought to increase trophic transmission of the parasite. Infected male rats also show a greater testicular synthesis of testosterone and epigenetic change in arginine vasopressin within the medial amygdala. Here, we show that exogenous supply of testosterone within MeA of uninfected castrates recapitulates reduction in innate fear akin to behavioral change attributed to the parasite. We also show that castration post establishment of chronic infection precludes changes in fear and medial amygdala arginine vasopressin in the infected male rats. These observations support the role of gonadal hormones and pursuant neuroendocrine changes in mediating the loss of fear in the infected rats. This work also demonstrates that testosterone acting specifically within the medial amygdala sufficiently explains reduced defensive behaviors often observed during the appetitive component of reproductive behaviors.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00630/fullandrogenbehavioral manipulationdefensive behaviorsparasitespheromonessemiochemicals |
| spellingShingle | Dhiraj Kumar Singh Shantala Arundathi Hari Dass Samira Abdulai-Saiku Ajai Vyas Testosterone Acts Within the Medial Amygdala of Rats to Reduce Innate Fear to Predator Odor Akin to the Effects of Toxoplasma gondii Infection Frontiers in Psychiatry androgen behavioral manipulation defensive behaviors parasites pheromones semiochemicals |
| title | Testosterone Acts Within the Medial Amygdala of Rats to Reduce Innate Fear to Predator Odor Akin to the Effects of Toxoplasma gondii Infection |
| title_full | Testosterone Acts Within the Medial Amygdala of Rats to Reduce Innate Fear to Predator Odor Akin to the Effects of Toxoplasma gondii Infection |
| title_fullStr | Testosterone Acts Within the Medial Amygdala of Rats to Reduce Innate Fear to Predator Odor Akin to the Effects of Toxoplasma gondii Infection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Testosterone Acts Within the Medial Amygdala of Rats to Reduce Innate Fear to Predator Odor Akin to the Effects of Toxoplasma gondii Infection |
| title_short | Testosterone Acts Within the Medial Amygdala of Rats to Reduce Innate Fear to Predator Odor Akin to the Effects of Toxoplasma gondii Infection |
| title_sort | testosterone acts within the medial amygdala of rats to reduce innate fear to predator odor akin to the effects of toxoplasma gondii infection |
| topic | androgen behavioral manipulation defensive behaviors parasites pheromones semiochemicals |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00630/full |
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