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Microplastic-induced hypertension in rats: A two-hit model exploring oxidative stress and gut microbiota
Summary
Researchers used a two-hit model in rats to examine whether maternal microplastic exposure during pregnancy and nursing worsens the effects of direct microplastic exposure later in life. They found that combined maternal and postnatal exposure elevated blood pressure more than either exposure alone, with effects linked to oxidative stress and changes in gut bacteria. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may have compounding effects across generations, raising concerns about long-term cardiovascular and kidney health.
Microplastic particulates (MPs) accumulate widely in ecosystems and pose health risks to both pregnant women and their offspring. Studies have detected MPs in the kidneys and fetal tissues, but it remains unclear whether maternal MP exposure worsens postnatal MP-induced hypertension and kidney disease. This study examined male rat offspring (n = 8/group) divided into four exposure groups: control, indirect (maternal exposure to 1 mg/L MPs during gestation and lactation), direct (offspring exposure to 1 mg/L MPs from 3 to 16 weeks), and combined exposure. By 16 weeks, both maternal and postnatal MP exposure elevated blood pressure (BP), with a synergistic effect observed in the combined exposure group. Maternal MP exposure also increased plasma creatinine levels, indicating kidney dysfunction. Oxidative kidney damage was associated with both direct and indirect MP exposure. Additionally, combined exposure disrupted gut microbiota, reducing species richness and evenness, and downregulated renal angiotensin II type 2 receptor expression, a key regulator of BP. These findings underscore the long-term health risks of MPs, emphasizing their role in the developmental origins of hypertension and kidney disease.