Infection of male rats with Toxoplasma gondii results in enhanced delay aversion and neural changes in the nucleus accumbens core
Rats infected with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii exhibit reduced avoidance of predator odours. This behavioural change is likely to increase transmission of the parasite from rats to cats. Here, we show that infection with T. gondii increases the propensity of the infected rats to make mo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2015
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/93733 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/38349 |
| _version_ | 1811681490301353984 |
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| author | Tan, Donna Soh, Linda Jing Ting Lim, Lee Wei Tan, Daniel Chia Wei Zhang, Xiaodong Vyas, Ajai |
| author2 | School of Biological Sciences |
| author_facet | School of Biological Sciences Tan, Donna Soh, Linda Jing Ting Lim, Lee Wei Tan, Daniel Chia Wei Zhang, Xiaodong Vyas, Ajai |
| author_sort | Tan, Donna |
| collection | NTU |
| description | Rats infected with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii exhibit reduced avoidance of predator odours. This behavioural change is likely to increase transmission of the parasite from rats to cats. Here, we show that infection with T. gondii increases the propensity of the infected rats to make more impulsive choices, manifested as delay aversion in an intertemporal choice task. Concomitantly, T. gondii infection causes reduction in dopamine content and neuronal spine density of the nucleus accumbens core, but not of the nucleus accumbens shell. These results are consistent with a role of the nucleus accumbens dopaminergic system in mediation of choice impulsivity and goal-directed behaviours. Our observations suggest that T. gondii infection in rats causes a syndromic shift in related behavioural constructs of innate aversion and making foraging decisions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-10-01T03:41:46Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | ntu-10356/93733 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-10-01T03:41:46Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/937332023-02-28T16:58:35Z Infection of male rats with Toxoplasma gondii results in enhanced delay aversion and neural changes in the nucleus accumbens core Tan, Donna Soh, Linda Jing Ting Lim, Lee Wei Tan, Daniel Chia Wei Zhang, Xiaodong Vyas, Ajai School of Biological Sciences DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences::Zoology::Anatomy Rats infected with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii exhibit reduced avoidance of predator odours. This behavioural change is likely to increase transmission of the parasite from rats to cats. Here, we show that infection with T. gondii increases the propensity of the infected rats to make more impulsive choices, manifested as delay aversion in an intertemporal choice task. Concomitantly, T. gondii infection causes reduction in dopamine content and neuronal spine density of the nucleus accumbens core, but not of the nucleus accumbens shell. These results are consistent with a role of the nucleus accumbens dopaminergic system in mediation of choice impulsivity and goal-directed behaviours. Our observations suggest that T. gondii infection in rats causes a syndromic shift in related behavioural constructs of innate aversion and making foraging decisions. Accepted version 2015-07-16T06:12:44Z 2019-12-06T18:44:29Z 2015-07-16T06:12:44Z 2019-12-06T18:44:29Z 2015 2015 Journal Article Tan, D., Soh, L. J. T., Lim, L. W., Tan, D. C. W., Zhang, X., & Vyas, A. (2015). Infection of male rats with Toxoplasma gondii results in enhanced delay aversion and neural changes in the nucleus accumbens core. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 282(1808), 20150042-. 0962-8452 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/93733 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/38349 10.1098/rspb.2015.0042 25994671 en Proceedings of the royal society B © 2015 The Author(s). This is the author created version of a work that has been peer reviewed and accepted for publication in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, published by The Royal Society on behalf of The Author(s). It incorporates referee’s comments but changes resulting from the publishing process, such as copyediting, structural formatting, may not be reflected in this document. The published version is available at: [http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2015.0042]. application/pdf |
| spellingShingle | DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences::Zoology::Anatomy Tan, Donna Soh, Linda Jing Ting Lim, Lee Wei Tan, Daniel Chia Wei Zhang, Xiaodong Vyas, Ajai Infection of male rats with Toxoplasma gondii results in enhanced delay aversion and neural changes in the nucleus accumbens core |
| title | Infection of male rats with Toxoplasma gondii results in enhanced delay aversion and neural changes in the nucleus accumbens core |
| title_full | Infection of male rats with Toxoplasma gondii results in enhanced delay aversion and neural changes in the nucleus accumbens core |
| title_fullStr | Infection of male rats with Toxoplasma gondii results in enhanced delay aversion and neural changes in the nucleus accumbens core |
| title_full_unstemmed | Infection of male rats with Toxoplasma gondii results in enhanced delay aversion and neural changes in the nucleus accumbens core |
| title_short | Infection of male rats with Toxoplasma gondii results in enhanced delay aversion and neural changes in the nucleus accumbens core |
| title_sort | infection of male rats with toxoplasma gondii results in enhanced delay aversion and neural changes in the nucleus accumbens core |
| topic | DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences::Zoology::Anatomy |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/93733 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/38349 |
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