title: Chronic infection with Toxoplasma gondii induces death of submucosal enteric neurons and damage in the colonic mucosa of rats.
abstract: Intestinal epithelial secretion is coordinated by the submucosal plexus (SMP). Chemical mediators from SMP regulate the immunobiological response and direct actions against infectious agents. Toxoplasma gondii is a worldwide parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. This study aimed to determine the effects of chronic infection with T. gondii on the morphometry of the mucosa and the submucosal enteric neurons in the proximal colon of rats. Male adult rats were distributed into a control group (n = 10) and an infected group (n = 10). Infected rats received orally 500 oocysts of T. gondii (ME-49). After 36 days, the rats were euthanized and samples of the proximal colon were processed for histology to evaluate mucosal thickness in sections. Whole mounts were stained with methylene blue and subjected to immunohistochemistry to detect vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. The total number of submucosal neurons decreased by 16.20%. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-immunoreactive neurons increased by 26.95%. Intraepithelial lymphocytes increased by 62.86% and sulfomucin-producing goblet cells decreased by 22.87%. Crypt depth was greater by 43.02%. It was concluded that chronic infection with T. gondii induced death and hypertrophy in the remaining submucosal enteric neurons and damage to the colonic mucosa of rats.
authors.affiliation: State University of Maringa, Department of Morphological Sciences, Maringa, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: marcelobiondaro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marcelo Biondaro
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Góis
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Department of Pharmacy, Coxim, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Catchia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hermes-Uliana
authors.affiliation: State University of Maringa, Department of Morphological Sciences, Maringa, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maísa Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Barreto Zago
authors.affiliation: State University of Maringa, Department of Morphological Sciences, Maringa, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jacqueline Nelisis
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Zanoni
authors.affiliation: State University of Feira de Santana, Department of Biological Sciences, Feira de Santana, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aristeu Vieira
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: State University of Maringa, Department of Morphological Sciences, Maringa, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcílio Hubner
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: de Miranda-Neto
authors.affiliation: State University of Londrina, Department of Histology, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo José
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: de Almeida Araújo
authors.affiliation: State University of Maringa, Department of Morphological Sciences, Maringa, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Débora de Mello Gonçales
authors.initials: Dde M
authors.lastname: Sant'Ana
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D001399:Azure Stains; D002415:Cats; D016923:Cell Death; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003106:Colon / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000473:pathology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000166:cytology; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013368:Submucous Plexus / Q000166:cytology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000473:pathology*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D001399:Azure Stains; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
keywords: Enteric nervous system; Mucins; Submucosal plexus; Toxoplasmosis; Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide