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Environmental contamination with polystyrene micro and nano plastic affects Mytilus galloprovincialis ovaries
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Researchers exposed Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) to 5 µm microplastics and 0.1 µm nanoplastics and found that both triggered oxidative stress, disrupted cytoskeletal proteins, and impaired oocyte maturation, with nanoplastics causing more severe suppression of egg cell proliferation and higher rates of cell death — raising concerns for coastal mollusk reproductive health.
Polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics (MNP) are persistent pollutants in aquatic environments worldwide. Once ingested, they accumulate in tissues and induce oxidative and cellular stress responses, leading to various adverse effects. However, their impacts on invertebrate reproductive systems remain poorly understood. In this study, we examined the effects of 5 μm microplastics (MP) and 0.1 μm nanoplastics (NP) on the ovaries of Mytilus galloprovincialis, a species commonly used as a bioindicator of coastal pollution. Both particles increased reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation while decreasing superoxide dismutase 2 expression. The redox imbalance was closely associated with significant changes in protein expression and cytoskeletal organisation. Disruption of vimentin and tubulin expression occurred alongside a displacement of cytosolic actin. Especially in ovaries exposed to NPs, these effects were accompanied by a markedly reduced oogonial proliferation and a higher rate of oocyte atresia. Caspase-3 activity and the BCL2 antagonist/killer Bak BAK expression corroborated these findings. Lectin-based analyses revealed significant changes in fucose, mannose, and N-acetylglucosamine residues in oocytes and adipogranular cells, confirming disturbances in protein glycosylation. Overall, the combined biochemical, structural, and molecular evidence suggests that both MP and NP severely disrupt oocyte maturation and diminish reproductive potential in M. galloprovincialis. Given mussels' ecological role as essential benthic filter feeders and sentinel organisms, these findings raise concerns about potential long-term impacts on population dynamics and coastal ecosystem resilience and highlight the urgent need for risk mitigation measures.
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Polystyrene nanoplastics in the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis.
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This study investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics affect Mediterranean mussels, an important marine species and human food source. Researchers found that these tiny plastic particles can cross cell membranes, accumulate in tissues, and trigger oxidative stress and immune responses. The findings suggest that nanoplastic pollution in the ocean could affect both marine ecosystem health and the safety of seafood consumed by people.
Determination of bioaccumulation of polystyrene nanoplastics in mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and their impact on enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidative stress mechanisms
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Researchers assessed the bioaccumulation of polystyrene nanoplastics in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and measured enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant stress responses after 4 days of exposure to 1 mg/L of 54 nm particles. Nanoplastics accumulated in mussel tissues and triggered significant oxidative stress responses, including altered superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, indicating toxicological effects at environmentally relevant concentrations.
Polystyrene Nanoplastics in Aquatic Microenvironments Affect Sperm Metabolism and Fertilization of Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamark, 1819)
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Researchers exposed mussel sperm to amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes and measured the effects on fertilization. The study found that 50-nanometer particles caused structural damage to sperm membranes, DNA damage, and reduced motility and fertilizing capacity, while 100-nanometer particles had no significant effect. These findings suggest that the smallest nanoplastic particles may pose the greatest threat to reproductive success in marine organisms.
Chronic toxicity of polystyrene nanoparticles in the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis
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Researchers exposed Mediterranean mussels to polystyrene nanoplastics (50 nm, 10 µg/L) for 21 days and found genotoxicity in blood cells and overwhelmed antioxidant defenses in gills and digestive glands, with gills showing the most severe tissue-level oxidative damage over time.
Polystyrene Microplastic Exposure Adversely Affects Oocyte Quality and Ovary Health Status in Mytilus galloprovincialis
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Scientists found that mussels exposed to tiny plastic beads (the same kind found in everyday plastic pollution) for just 48 hours showed damaged egg cells, stress responses, and disrupted metabolism in their reproductive organs. Since mussels are filter feeders often used to gauge ocean pollution levels—and are also a food source for humans—this research is a warning sign that microplastics may harm reproductive health in marine life, raising questions about what similar exposure could mean for other animals, including us, as plastic pollution continues to build up in the food chain.
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