Neonicotinoid (NN) pesticides have been linked to increased brain dysfunction in mammals, such as anxiety-like behavior; this is thought to involve monoamines (MA), neurotransmitters that control behavior, memory, and learning. However, the mechanism by which NNs affect the central nervous system is not fully understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether MAs affect NNs-induced anxiety-like behavior. Mice were orally administered acetamiprid (ACE), an NN, at the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of mouse (20 mg/kg body mass) set by the Food Safety Commission of Japan, and the elevated zero-maze (EZM) test was performed 30 min after administration. After behavioral analysis, levels of four MA (dopamine, 3-MT, serotonin, and histamine) in selected brain regions were determined by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). In the exposed group, a trend toward increased anxiety-like behavior was observed, and at least one MA concentration was significantly increased in each region. Further, significant correlations were found between behavioral test results and hippocampal serotonin and striatal dopamine concentrations, as well as between dopamine and serotonin concentrations, in the exposed group. As anxiety can influence activity in the behavioral tests, the activity of neurons in the raphe nuclei (RN), a brain region greatly involved in anxiety via the serotonergic system, was examined by staining with anti-serotonin antibodies, and increased serotonergic activity was observed. Taken together, these results suggest that ACE regulates MA levels, notably serotonin levels in the hippocampus and that RN plays an important role in ACE-induced anxiety-like behavior.
Keywords: Behavioral test; Elevated zero maze; Monoamine; Neonicotinoids; Neurotoxicity; Serotonin.
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