Shiga Toxin 2 changes neurotransmitter expression of neurons from murine motor cortex and striatum

ARENAS DAVID; GOLDSTEIN JORGE; BERDASCO CLARA; GEOGHEGAN PATRICIA; ELIZAGARAY LUCAS; CANGELOSI ADRIANA; PINTO ALIPIO

Mendoza

Congreso; XXXVI Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2018

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2) from Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) causes hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and acute encephalopathy, which may lead to fatal outcomes in patients. Neurological signs of this disorder include decerebrate posturing, hemiparesis, ataxia, seizures and changes in the level of consciousness (from lethargy to coma). When neurological symptoms are evidenced mortality rate may rise up to 40%, significantly higher in comparison to that produced by HUS (5%). The motor areas of the brain are frequently affected in patients infected with EHEC. The aim of this study was to determine whether Stx2 changes the expression of neurotransmitters and/or the number of dopaminergic, GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons from the motor cortex and striatum. NIH Swiss male mice (n=4) were treated intravenously with vehicle (control) or 1ηg of Stx2 (100 μl per mouse). All animals were intracardially fixed on the 4th day (day of the injection considered as day 0) and their brains were subjected to immunofluorescence with an anti-tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) antibody to identify dopaminergic axons from substance nigra, anti-GABA and anti-glutamate antibodies to identify motor cortex GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons. Stx2 increased the striatal expression of TH in comparison to control-treated mice (36.17±5.44 vehicle vs 98.89±2.52 Stx2; in IOD; p