Chronic infection with Mycobacterium lepraemurium induces alterations in the hippocampus associated with memory loss

Sci Rep. 2018 Jun 13;8(1):9063. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-27352-x.

Abstract

Murine leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium lepraemurium (MLM), is a chronic disease that closely resembles human leprosy. Even though this disease does not directly involve the nervous system, we investigated a possible effect on working memory during this chronic infection in Balb/c mice. We evaluated alterations in the dorsal region of the hippocampus and measured peripheral levels of cytokines at 40, 80, and 120 days post-infection. To evaluate working memory, we used the T-maze while a morphometric analysis was conducted in the hippocampus regions CA1, CA2, CA3, and dentate gyrus (DG) to measure morphological changes. In addition, a neurochemical analysis was performed by HPLC. Our results show that, at 40 days post-infection, there was an increase in the bacillary load in the liver and spleen associated to increased levels of IL-4, working memory deterioration, and changes in hippocampal morphology, including degeneration in the four subregions analyzed. Also, we found a decrease in neurotransmitter levels at the same time of infection. Although MLM does not directly infect the nervous system, these findings suggest a possible functional link between the immune system and the central nervous system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chronic Disease
  • Dentate Gyrus / microbiology
  • Dentate Gyrus / pathology
  • Dentate Gyrus / physiopathology
  • Hippocampus / microbiology
  • Hippocampus / pathology
  • Hippocampus / physiopathology*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Male
  • Maze Learning
  • Memory Disorders / metabolism
  • Memory Disorders / microbiology
  • Memory Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Memory, Short-Term
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mycobacterium Infections / metabolism
  • Mycobacterium Infections / microbiology
  • Mycobacterium Infections / physiopathology*
  • Mycobacterium lepraemurium / physiology
  • Neurotransmitter Agents / metabolism
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Neurotransmitter Agents
  • Interleukin-4