Induction of depressive-like behavior by intranigral 6-OHDA is directly correlated with deficits in striatal dopamine and hippocampal serotonin.

•The intranigral infusion of 6-OHDA was able to promote a depressive-like behavior.•6-OHDA-lesioned rats exhibited a reduction in the levels of hippocampal serotonin and striatal dopamine.•Animals that received 6-OHDA showed a decrease in swimming time and consumption of sucrose.•There is a correlation between hippocampal serotonin and time swimming and sucrose consumption.•There is a correlation between striatal dopamine levels and immobility time in the forced swim test.