Chronic adulthood exposure to bisphenol A causes behavioral changes via suppressing dopamine transporter trafficking

Abstract Evidence suggests that early life exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) may impact neurobehavioral development in animals. BPA has been linked to changes in the dopamine level in the brain. However, molecular and cellular details of how BPA exposure causes these behavioral and cognitive outcomes ar...

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Main Authors: Yu Shi, Xiaoye Feng, Chang Y. Chung
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98084-y
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author Yu Shi
Xiaoye Feng
Chang Y. Chung
author_facet Yu Shi
Xiaoye Feng
Chang Y. Chung
author_sort Yu Shi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Evidence suggests that early life exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) may impact neurobehavioral development in animals. BPA has been linked to changes in the dopamine level in the brain. However, molecular and cellular details of how BPA exposure causes these behavioral and cognitive outcomes are poorly understood. We examined how BPA affects the behaviors of adult mice and found that BPA induced hyperactivity and abnormal reward feedback in mice exposed at the early adult stage. We hypothesized that BPA might cause hyperactivity in mice by suppressing DAT trafficking. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that YFP-DAT remains in the perinuclear area when treated with BPA, compared to broader distribution throughout the cytoplasm in control cells. Results from MPTP toxicity and APP + uptake assays indicate that the surface expression of DAT was reduced by BPA treatment. Immunofluorescence staining of neurons in the Substantia nigra (SN) area of the mouse brain also revealed that DAT remains in the perinuclear region, indicating lower surface expression of DAT in the SN, playing important roles in reward and movement. We used another in vivo model, C. elegans, expressing GFP-tagged DAT-1 fusion protein and found that exposure to 50 µM BPA induced a significant increase in the frequency of body bends. However, the frequency of body bends was significantly reduced at 100 µM BPA, indicating biphasic effects of BPA. In conclusion, our results suggest that BPA contributes to the alterations of mice and worm behavior by reducing DAT expression on the surface of neurons via blocking of DAT trafficking.
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spelling doaj-art-bfbd173cd5314378abe5c5637ac6752c2025-08-20T02:17:54ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-98084-yChronic adulthood exposure to bisphenol A causes behavioral changes via suppressing dopamine transporter traffickingYu Shi0Xiaoye Feng1Chang Y. Chung2School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin UniversitySchool of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin UniversitySchool of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin UniversityAbstract Evidence suggests that early life exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) may impact neurobehavioral development in animals. BPA has been linked to changes in the dopamine level in the brain. However, molecular and cellular details of how BPA exposure causes these behavioral and cognitive outcomes are poorly understood. We examined how BPA affects the behaviors of adult mice and found that BPA induced hyperactivity and abnormal reward feedback in mice exposed at the early adult stage. We hypothesized that BPA might cause hyperactivity in mice by suppressing DAT trafficking. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that YFP-DAT remains in the perinuclear area when treated with BPA, compared to broader distribution throughout the cytoplasm in control cells. Results from MPTP toxicity and APP + uptake assays indicate that the surface expression of DAT was reduced by BPA treatment. Immunofluorescence staining of neurons in the Substantia nigra (SN) area of the mouse brain also revealed that DAT remains in the perinuclear region, indicating lower surface expression of DAT in the SN, playing important roles in reward and movement. We used another in vivo model, C. elegans, expressing GFP-tagged DAT-1 fusion protein and found that exposure to 50 µM BPA induced a significant increase in the frequency of body bends. However, the frequency of body bends was significantly reduced at 100 µM BPA, indicating biphasic effects of BPA. In conclusion, our results suggest that BPA contributes to the alterations of mice and worm behavior by reducing DAT expression on the surface of neurons via blocking of DAT trafficking.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98084-yBisphenol ABrainBehaviorDopamine transporterDAT trafficking
spellingShingle Yu Shi
Xiaoye Feng
Chang Y. Chung
Chronic adulthood exposure to bisphenol A causes behavioral changes via suppressing dopamine transporter trafficking
Scientific Reports
Bisphenol A
Brain
Behavior
Dopamine transporter
DAT trafficking
title Chronic adulthood exposure to bisphenol A causes behavioral changes via suppressing dopamine transporter trafficking
title_full Chronic adulthood exposure to bisphenol A causes behavioral changes via suppressing dopamine transporter trafficking
title_fullStr Chronic adulthood exposure to bisphenol A causes behavioral changes via suppressing dopamine transporter trafficking
title_full_unstemmed Chronic adulthood exposure to bisphenol A causes behavioral changes via suppressing dopamine transporter trafficking
title_short Chronic adulthood exposure to bisphenol A causes behavioral changes via suppressing dopamine transporter trafficking
title_sort chronic adulthood exposure to bisphenol a causes behavioral changes via suppressing dopamine transporter trafficking
topic Bisphenol A
Brain
Behavior
Dopamine transporter
DAT trafficking
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98084-y
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AT xiaoyefeng chronicadulthoodexposuretobisphenolacausesbehavioralchangesviasuppressingdopaminetransportertrafficking
AT changychung chronicadulthoodexposuretobisphenolacausesbehavioralchangesviasuppressingdopaminetransportertrafficking