Neurochemical and behavioral analysis by acute exposure to bisphenol A in zebrafish larvae model

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical monomer widely used in the production of hard plastics for food containers and personal items. Through improper industrial control and disposal, BPA has become a pervasive environmental contaminant, and toxicological studies have shown potent xenobiotic endocrine disruptor activity. Prenatal exposure in particular can lead to infertility and nervous system disorders characterized by behavioral aggression, depression, and cognitive impairment, thus necessitating careful hazard assessment. In this study, we evaluated BPA accumulation rate, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, lethality, cardiotoxicity, behavioral effects, and impacts on multiple neurochemical pathways in zebrafish larvae. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) ranged from 1.95 to 10.0, resulting in a high rate of accumulation in the larval body. Also, high BBB permeability allowed BPA to accumulate at similar rates in both zebrafish and adult mouse (blood to brain concentration ratios of 3.2-6.7 and 1.8 to 5.5, respectively). In addition, BPA-exposed zebrafish larvae exhibited developmental deformities, reduced heart rate, and impaired behavioral patterns, including decreased total distance traveled, slower movement velocity, and altered color-preference. These impairments were associated with inhibition of the phenylalanine to dopamine synthesis pathway and an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter systems. Our results suggest that behavioral alteration in BPA-exposed zebrafish result from high accumulation and ensuing dysregulation of serotonergic, kynurenergic, dopaminergic, cholinergic, and GABAergic neurotransmitter systems. In conclusion, similarities in toxic responses to mammalian models highlight the utility of the zebrafish larva as a convenient model for screening environmental toxins.