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Benzo[α]pyrene‐Induced Anti‐Depressive‐like Behaviour in Adult Female Mice: Role of Monoaminergic Systems
Author(s) -
Bouayed Jaouad,
Bohn Torsten,
Tybl Elisabeth,
Kiemer Alexandra K.,
Soulimani Rachid
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
basic and clinical pharmacology and toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.805
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1742-7843
pISSN - 1742-7835
DOI - 10.1111/j.1742-7843.2011.00853.x
Subject(s) - tail suspension test , behavioural despair test , serotonergic , monoaminergic , imipramine , neurochemical , medicine , endocrinology , serotonin , antidepressant , alpha (finance) , receptor , chemistry , adrenergic , pharmacology , psychology , pathology , developmental psychology , alternative medicine , hippocampus , construct validity , psychometrics
Benzo[α]pyrene ( B [α] P ) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant exhibiting adverse effects on cognitive function and behaviour. In this study, depressive or antidepressive effects of B [α] P were investigated. Here, we report that a subacute B [α] P oral exposure (0.02–0.2 mg/kg) increases mobility behaviour in female adult mice in the tail suspension test, but not in the forced swimming test, without altering locomotion, suggesting that the tail suspension test was a more sensitive indicator of B [α] P ‐induced neurobehavioural disturbance. This might be because of differences in neurochemical substrates and pathways, mediating the performance in these behavioural models of depression. The effect of B [α] P on female adult mice in the tail suspension test was similar to that obtained with subacute treatment of the antidepressant reference drug imipramine (10 mg/kg). Therefore, B [α] P at 0.02 mg/kg and 0.2 mg/kg induces an antidepressant‐like effect in mice, suggesting a neurobehavioural disturbance after oral exposure to this environmental compound. Furthermore, oral exposure to B [α] P at 0.02 mg/kg significantly increased gene expression levels of the brain receptors 5‐hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) 1A (5 HT 1 A ) and alpha‐1 D adrenergic ( ADRA 1 D ). In summary, the presented findings suggest that subacute oral exposure to B [α] P results in behavioural changes in female adult mice, possibly caused by alterations in the serotoninergic and adrenergic systems.