Influenza infection induces neuroinflammation, alters hippocampal neuron morphology, and impairs cognition in adult mice

• Published in: The Journal of neuroscience Vol. 32; no. 12; pp. 3958 - 3968
• Main Authors: Jurgens, Heidi A, Amancherla, Kaushik, Johnson, Rodney W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Society for Neuroscience 21.03.2012
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Body Weight - physiology; Cognition Disorders - etiology; Cognition Disorders - virology; Cytokines - genetics; Cytokines - metabolism; Dendrites - ultrastructure; Dendritic Spines - metabolism; Dendritic Spines - ultrastructure; Dendritic Spines - virology; Disease Models, Animal; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral - genetics; Hippocampus - pathology; Humans; Illness Behavior - physiology; Inflammation - etiology; Inflammation - pathology; Inflammation - virology; Influenza, Human - complications; Male; Maze Learning; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Motor Activity - physiology; Neurons - pathology; Neurons - ultrastructure; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Silver Staining; Time Factors; Viral Matrix Proteins - genetics; Viral Matrix Proteins - metabolism

Influenza is a common and highly contagious viral pathogen, yet its effects on the structure and function of the CNS remain largely unknown. Although there is evidence that influenza strains that infect the brain can lead to altered cognitive and emotional behaviors, it is unknown whether a viral st...