Realistic concentrations of Bisphenol-A trigger a neurotoxic response in the brain of zebrafish: Oxidative stress, behavioral impairment, acetylcholinesterase inhibition, and gene expression disruption

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a micro-pollutant found in various environmental matrices at concentrations as low as ng/L. Recent studies have shown that this compound can cause oxidative damage and neurotoxic effects in aquatic organisms. However, there is a lack of research investigating the effects of BPA at environmentally relevant concentrations. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the neurotoxic effects of acute BPA exposure (96 h) at environmentally relevant concentrations (220, 1180, and 1500 ng/L) in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). The Novel Tank trial was used to evaluate fish swimming behavior, and our results indicate that exposure to 1500 ng/L of BPA reduced the total distance traveled and increased freezing time. Furthermore, the evaluation of biomarkers in the zebrafish brain revealed that BPA exposure led to the production of reactive oxygen species and increased acetylcholinesterase activity. Gene expression analysis also indicated the overexpression of mbp, α1-tubulin, and manf in the zebrafish brain. Based on our findings, we concluded that environmentally relevant concentrations of BPA can cause anxiety-like behavior and neurotoxic effects in adult zebrafish.

Keywords: BPA; Behavioral alterations; Fish; Neurotoxicity; Oxidative damage.