Postnatal zinc deficiency due to giardiasis disrupts hippocampal and cerebellar development.

Angélica González-MacielLaura Elizabeth Rosas LópezRosa María Romero-VelázquezAndrea Ramos-MoralesMartha Ponce-MacotelaDavid Calderón-GuzmánFrancisca Trujillo-JiménezAlfonso Alfaro-RodríguezRafael Reynoso-Robles

Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases (2024)

The morphological changes found suggest that neuronal migration is affected by zinc depletion caused by giardiasis in early postnatal life; for the first time, the link between giardiasis-zinc depletion and damaged brain structures is shown. This damage may explain the psychomotor/cognitive delay associated with giardiasis. These findings are alarming. Alterations in zinc metabolism and signalling are known to be involved in many brain disorders, including autism.

Keyphrases

oxide nanoparticles
cerebral ischemia
preterm infants
white matter
autism spectrum disorder
oxidative stress
high resolution
brain injury