Monoamine changes in the brain of BALB/c mice following sub-lethal infection with Nocardia asteroides (GUH-2)

• Published in: Neurochemical research 2000-04, Vol.25 (4), p.443-448
• Main Authors: HYLAND, K, BEAMAN, B. L, LEWITT, P. A, DEMAGGIO, A. J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid - metabolism; Animals; Bacterial diseases; Biogenic Monoamines - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - metabolism; Brain - microbiology; Brain - pathology; Cerebellum - metabolism; Dopamine - metabolism; Experimental bacterial diseases and models; Female; Homovanillic Acid - metabolism; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid - metabolism; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; monoamines; Movement Disorders - etiology; Movement Disorders - metabolism; Movement Disorders - microbiology; Neostriatum - metabolism; Nocardia asteroides; Nocardia asteroides - isolation & purification; Nocardia asteroides - pathogenicity; Nocardia Infections - metabolism; Nocardia Infections - pathology; Norepinephrine - metabolism; Serotonin - metabolism; Survival Rate
• ISSN: 0364-3190; 1573-6903
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1007599606914

BALB/c mice injected intravenously with a single, sub-lethal dose of Nocardia asteroides GUH-2 develop several levodopa responsive movement disorders. These included headshake, stooped posture, bradykinesia, and hesitation to forward movement. The changes in monoamine levels in the brain of these mice were determined. There was a significant loss of dopamine with greatly increased dopamine turnover in the neostriatum 7 to 29 days after infection. These effects were specific for dopaminergic neurons since minimal changes were found in neostriatal norepinephrine and serotonin even though serotonin turnover was increased. Changes in monoamine metabolism were not limited to the neostriatum. There were reduced levels of serotonin and norepinephrine with increased serotonin turnover in the cerebellum. One year after infection, dopamine metabolism had returned to near normal levels, but many of the movement disorders persisted. Specific changes in neurochemistry did not always appear to correspond with these impairments. Nevertheless, these data are similar to those reported in MPTP treated BALB/c mice.