β-glucan alleviates goal-directed behavior in mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii strain

Abstract Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a neuroinvasive parasite closely associated with a higher risk for several psycho-behavioral disorders. β-glucan is an immunomodulating ingredient extracted from mushrooms. In this study, we evaluated the effect of β-glucan on cognitive decline induced by T. gondii infection in mice chronically infected with T. gondii Wh6 strain. We demonstrated that intraperitoneal administration of β-glucan significantly prevented T. gondii Wh6-induced goal-directed behavioral impairment assessed behaviorally by Y-maze test and TOM test. In the prefrontal cortex, β-glucan countered T. gondii Wh6-induced degeneration of neurites, impairment of synaptic ultrastructure and decrease of pre- and postsynaptic protein levels. Meanwhile, β-glucan significantly prevented microglial and astrocytes hyperactivation and proinflammatory cytokines upregulation caused by chronic T. gondii Wh6 infection. This study revealed that β-glucan prevents goal-directed behavioral impairment induced by chronic T. gondiiinfection in mice, provides an effective drug candidate for the prevention of T. gondii-related psycho-behavioral disorders.