Changes in purine levels associated with cellular brain injury in gerbils experimentally infected with Neospora caninum.
The present study was carried out in order to assess the possible alterations in purine levels of brain, associated neuronal lesions in gerbils experimentally infected with Neospora caninum. For that, gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were inoculated with Nc-1 strain of N. caninum, composing two different experiments: Experiment I (EI) and experiment II (EII), where purine levels were measured along with the histopathologic study, on days 7 (EI), 15 and 30 (EII), post-infection (PI). As a result, it was possible to observe that the purine levels (ATP, ADP, AMP, adenosine, inosine and xanthine) in brain in EI are significantly reduced (p < 0.05), while in EII we faced a different pattern, since in the majority the purine levels were significantly increased (p < 0.05) on days 15 (ATP, AMP, adenosine, hypoxanthine and xanthine) and 30 PI (ATP, ADP, AMP, adenosine, and uric acid). Results of brain histopathology did not show histological lesion in animals of EI; however, in gerbils of EII it was possible to verify that the alterations (lesions) were more pronounced in gerbils evaluated on day 30 PI when compared to day 15 PI. Therefore, it was possible to conclude that the purine levels in brain were altered in both experiments, concomitant with the histopathological injuries observed in EII.
Department of Small Animals, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Hospital Veterinário Universitário, UFSM. Avenida Roraima n° 1000, Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, CEP 97105-900, Brazil. Electronic address: tonin.aat@gmail.com.
Alexandre A
AA
Tonin
Department of of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Rua Beloni Trombeta Zanin, 680-E. Bairro Santo Antônio, Chapecó, Santa Catarina, CEP 89815-630, Brazil.
Aleksandro S
AS
Da Silva
Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Avenida Roraima, Prédio 18 - Cidade Universitária; Faixa de Camobi, KM 9; Bairro Camobi; Santa Maria/RS, CEP 97105-900, Brazil.
Gustavo R
GR
Thomé
Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, CEP 90035-003, Brazil.
Gabriel H
GH
Schirmbeck
Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, CEP 90035-003, Brazil.
Valesca V
VV
Cardoso
Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, CEP 90035-003, Brazil.
Emerson A
EA
Casali
Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências Rurais, Campus Universitário, Camobi - Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, CEP 97105-000, Brazil.
Gustavo
G
Toscan
Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências Rurais, Campus Universitário, Camobi - Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, CEP 97105-000, Brazil.
Fernanda F
FF
Vogel
Department of Pathology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Hospital Veterinário Universitário, prédio 97B, UFSM - Avenida Roraima, n° 1000, Camobi, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, CEP 97105-900, Brazil.
Mariana M
MM
Flores
Department of Pathology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Hospital Veterinário Universitário, prédio 97B, UFSM - Avenida Roraima, n° 1000, Camobi, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, CEP 97105-900, Brazil.
Rafael
R
Fighera
Department of Small Animals, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Hospital Veterinário Universitário, UFSM. Avenida Roraima n° 1000, Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, CEP 97105-900, Brazil.
Sonia T A
ST
Lopes
D000818:Animals; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D005849:Gerbillinae; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008297:Male; D018688:Neospora / Q000378:metabolism*; D011685:Purine Nucleotides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D011685:Purine Nucleotides
Apicomplexa; Central nervous system; Histopathology; Neosporosis; Purinergic signalling