title: Loss of predator aversion in female rats after Toxoplasma gondii infection is not dependent on ovarian steroids.
abstract: Toxoplasma gondii infection reduces aversion to cat odors in male rats. Relevant proximate mechanisms include interaction of gonadal testosterone and brain nonapeptide arginine-vasopressin. Both of these substrates are sexually dimorphic with preferential expression in males; suggesting either absence of behavioral change in females or mediation by analogous neuroendocrine substrates. Here we demonstrate that Toxoplasma gondii infection reduces aversion to cat odor in female rats. This change is not accompanied by altered steroid hormones; cannot be rescued by gonadal removal; and, does not depend on arginine-vasopressin. Thus behavioral change in males and female occur through non-analogous mechanisms that remain hitherto unknown.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore.
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdulai-Saiku
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore. Electronic address: avyas@ntu.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Ajai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vyas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000378:metabolism; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005239:Fear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013256:Steroids; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D014122:Toxoplasma; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000523:psychology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D013256:Steroids; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone
keywords: Apicomplexan parasites; Arginine vasopressin; Behavioral manipulation; Estrogen; Gender; Medial amygdala; Parasites; Progesterone; Testosterone