Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) and behavioral early alterations by endovenous (ev) administration of Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2) from enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (STEC) in mice.

CEJUDO MARIA LAURA; CANGELOSI ADRIANA; TIRONI FARINATI CARLA; PINTO ALIPIO; GEOGHEGAN PATRICIA; GOLDSTEIN JORGE

Congreso; XXVI Congreso Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencia; 2011

Stx2 from STEC causes hemorrhagic colitis, Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, and neurological damage. Since the entrance to the brain of Stx2 is through the BBB, the aim of this study is to determine BBB and behavioral alterations in mice after ev Stx2 administration. NIH mice were anesthetized, perfused and their brains were processed to perform confocal histofluorescence in the hippocampus by binding of Lycopersicum esculentum lectins to endothelial cell membranes after 0, 24 and 48h. Shirpa test, blood urea, creatinine and weight variation measurements were also done. An increased microvessel area and intensity, mild neurological dysfunction, and increased levels of blood urea and creatinine were observed after 48h of ev Stx2 treatment (p