Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons, leading to a spectrum of motor and non-motor symptoms. While motor deficits serve as the primary criteria for diagnosis, emerging evidence suggests that non-motor symptoms may also significantly contribute to the disease's progression. In this study, our aim was to investigate the potential impact of IGF-1 on the progression of emotional-like behavioral deficits in a rat model of neurotoxicity induced by 6-OHDA infusion into the dorsolateral striatum. We evaluated behavioral changes in male Wistar rats at 1, 2, and 3 weeks post-lesion using the elevated plus maze, light-dark box, and forced swimming tests. Following 6-OHDA infusion, immunohistochemical analysis revealed a decrease in tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area, and striatum, indicating a partial lesion of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system. Additionally, we observed an increase in mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokine IL-1 in the striatum. Our results demonstrated anxiety-like behavior starting at week 1 post-lesion, persisting until week 3, preceding the onset of motor impairment. Interestingly, intracisternal administration of retro adenoviral vector expressing IGF-1 effectively prevented anxiety-like behavior at week 3.