The Effect of Toxoplasma gondiiInfection on Serotonin (5-HT) Levels and Their Impact on GABAergic Activity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36320/ajb/v18.i2.23507Keywords:
Toxoplasma gondii, Serotonin , Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)Abstract
The present work is directed towards evaluating
the alterations of serotonin and GABA concentration levels
due to Toxoplasma gondii infection. For this, a total of 120
subjects were selected, among whom 60 were infected
patients and 60 were normal controls. ELISA was employed
for determining the serum levels of these two components.
Based on the results, marked neuroendocrine alterations were
observed in infected patients. Serum levels of serotonin were
observed to be significantly reduced in infected patients, i.e.,
0.5441 ± 0.039 ng/mL, whereas these levels were high in
normal controls, i.e., 1.500 ± 0.102 ng/mL. p < 0.0001. In
addition, there was a significant reduction of GABA levels
observed in infected patients when compared with normal
controls (1.530 ± 0.099 pg/L and 6.125 ± 0.156 pg/L, p <
0.0001, respectively). A very weak and insignificant
relationship of serotonin and GABA concentration levels was
observed in infected patients (r² =0.001). It can be
highlighted from the above findings that alterations of
serotonin and GABA concentration levels in infected patients
lead to a marked reduction of two of the important inhibitory
components of neurotransmitters. These two inhibitory
components could lead to an imbalance towards an excitatory
state of the neural system and explain neurobehavioral and
psychological alterations observed in patients suffering from
chronic toxoplasmosis.
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