Neuroprotective effects of gastrodin against bisphenol A induced-ADHD-like symptoms in rats

Gastrodin (GAS) is a potent pharmaceutical compound extracted from the dried roots of a Chinese medicinal herb, Gastrodia elata Blume. It has been used as a neuroprotective treatment for a range of neurological disorders. Bisphenol A (BPA) has been implicated in the induction of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-like symptoms. We investigated the neuroprotective effects of GAS against BPA-induced ADHD-like symptoms in the rat model. Weanling male Wistar rats treated with BPA (50 µg/kg b.w. × 30 days per os) on completion of treatment were subsequently treated with GAS at two doses (30 and 60 mg/kg b.w. i.p. × 7 days). After 24 hours of completion of the treatment regimen, neurobehavioral parameters such as open field test (OFT), novel object recognition (NOR), and elevated plus maze (EPM) test were evaluated. Lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione (GSH), monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity, and dopamine (DA) levels were measured in the cerebral cortex (CC) and hippocampus (HC) regions of the brain. Additionally, to asses astrocyte activatio the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was analyzed by immunostaining. Results show that GAS treatment ameliorated locomotory activity (OFT), memory dysfunction (NOR), and anxious (EPM) behavioral alterations in BPA-treated animals. GAS treatment also reduced lipid peroxidation, enhanced GSH, MAO activity, and DA levels, and reduced GFAP-positive cells in the CC and HC regions thus providing experimental evidence for a neuroprotective role for GAS against BPA-induced ADHD-like symptoms. GAS demonstrated potential preventive effects against BPA-induced ADHD-like symptoms in rats which highlights its therapeutic value.