Chronic toxoplasmosis is associated with psychotic disorders. Multiple in vitro studies
showed that many antipsychotic medications have anti-Toxoplasma activity. Meanwhile,
there is very limited data regarding the inhibitory effect of them on Toxoplasma in vivo.
This study evaluated the activity of Chlorpromazine®, Clozapine®, and prolactin (a pituitary
gland hormone) on toxoplasmosis infected rats.
Clean laboratory breed rats were chronically infected with non-virulent T. gondii strain
and classified into 8 groups: negative, positive control groups, chlorpromazine, clozapine,
and metoclopramide drug control groups, and 3 infected treated groups. Rats' sera were
screened with ELISA test to evaluate level of dopamine, interferon gamma, and prolactin.
All drugs were effective against T. gondii in infected rats. Dopamine level and INF-γ level
were significantly decreased in chlorpromazine infected treated rats. There was significant
decrease of dopamine level and increase of prolactin level in clozapine infected treated rats.
In metoclopramide infected treated rats prolactin level significantly increased, but INF-γ
level significantly decreased.