Data from: Infection of male rats with Toxoplasma gondii results in enhanced delay aversion and neural changes in the nucleus accumbens core

Rats infected with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii exhibit reduced avoidance of predator odors. This behavioral change is likely to increase transmission of the parasite from rats to cats. Here we show that infection with Toxoplasma gondii increases the propensity of the infected rats to make more impulsive choices, manifested as delay aversion in an intertemporal choice task. Concomitantly, Toxoplasma gondii infection causes reduction in dopamine content and neuronal spine density of the nucleus accumbens core, but not of the nucleus accumbens shell. These results are consistent with role of the nucleus accumbens dopaminergic system in mediation of choice impulsivity and goal-directed behaviors. Our observations suggest that Toxoplasma gondii infection in rats causes a syndromic shift in related behavioral constructs of innate aversion and making foraging decisions.被刚地弓形虫（Toxoplasma gondii）这种原生动物寄生虫感染的大鼠，会表现出对捕食者气味的规避行为减弱。该行为改变大概率会提升该寄生虫从大鼠向猫的传播效率。本研究证实，刚地弓形虫感染会增强受感染大鼠的冲动选择倾向，具体表现为在跨期选择任务（intertemporal choice task）中呈现延迟厌恶（delay aversion）特征。与此同时，刚地弓形虫感染会降低大鼠伏隔核核心区（nucleus accumbens core）的多巴胺含量与神经元树突棘密度，但对伏隔核壳区（nucleus accumbens shell）无此影响。上述结果与伏隔核多巴胺能系统介导选择冲动性与目标导向行为的作用机制相符。本研究结果表明，大鼠感染刚地弓形虫后，其先天厌恶与觅食决策相关的行为结构会发生综合征式转变。