Deficits in Striatal Dopamine and Hippocampal Serotonin Following Induction of Anxiety/Depressive-Like Behaviors by Bisphenol A

Anxiety and depression are common nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). We investigated whether Bisphenol A (BPA) is capable of inducing anxiety/depressive-like behaviors and neurotransmitter alterations that are similar to those observed in PD. To test this hypothesis, we used a zebrafish animal model and conducted behavioral and histological assays. BPA produced anxiety/depression-like behavioral signs for 14 days following administration. Altered behavioral responses were accompanied by reductions of striatal dopamine transporter, and decrease in hippocampal 5-HT content. These results suggest that the nigrostriatal pathway might play a role in the etiology of anxiety/depression. Furthermore, dopamine transporter function, in particular, might play a critical role in the pathophysiology of anxiety/depression.