This post is specially for all the Ventures who went for the Malaysian Expedition and had one form of brain degeneration or other. Let me introduce to you to a Protista. Pronounce with me: Toxoplasma gondii.
Statistics show that half the world's population is infected with T. gondii. The protista originates from the guts of cats and is excreted in its urine. Just a breeze of wind is enough to transport hundreds of T. gondii into the respiratory and GI tract of the unsuspecting homosapien. And it is from there when the Brain Degeneration begins.
T. gondii, unlike most protista, is specific. It targets only one organelle.
It targets the Astrocytes. (Really cool name if you think about it). Astrocytes are extremely important in the brain. Without the Astrocytes, the neurons will die. This is because of the important functions an astrocyte carries out. Astrocytes structure the brain, provide neurons with metabolic support, supplying the neurons with glucose. Astrocytes also have more complicated functions, which I will not explain in this entry. (An interesting function is vasomodulation and its role in the blood-brain barrier).
So without an astrocyte, the neurons will have a lack of nutrients and be destroyed. After that, everything is simple. Neurons die, deteriorating brain functions... Bingo. Brain degeneration.
But do not worry. It can be cured by Haloperidol, an antipsychotic.
Pictures taken from:
www-ermm.cbcu.cam.ac.uk/01002216h.htm
www.physoc.org/publications/.../article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=95
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