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Sublethal Toxicity and Gene Expression Changes in Hydra vulgaris Exposed to Polyethylene and Polypropylene Nanoparticles
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Researchers exposed the freshwater cnidarian Hydra vulgaris to polystyrene nanoplastics over an extended period, measuring sublethal toxicity endpoints and gene expression changes to understand the chronic effects of nanoplastic exposure on a simple but ecologically relevant aquatic animal.
Plastic nanoparticles (NPs) released from plastic pollution pervade aquatic ecosystems raising concerns on their long-term toxic effects in aquatic organisms. The purpose of this was to understand the sublethal toxicity of polyethylene (PENPs) and polypropylene (PPNPs) nanoparticles of same size (50 nm diameter) in Hydra vulgaris. Hydras were exposed to increasing concentrations of PENPs and PPNPs (0.3-10 mg/L) for 96 h at 20oC. Toxicity was determined based on the characteristic morphological changes and gene expression analysis of genes involved in oxidative stress, DNA repair, protein salvaging and autophagy, neural activity and regeneration. The data revealed that PPNPs produced morphological changes (50% effect concentration EC50=7 mg/L) while PENPs did not. Exposure to both nanoplastics produced changes in gene expression in all gene targets and at concentrations < 0.3 mg/L in some cases. PPNPs generally produced stronger effects than PENPs. The mode of action of these plastics polymers differed based on the intensity of responses in oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase, catalase), DNA repair of oxidized DNA, regeneration and circadian rhythms. In conclusion, both plastics nanoparticles produced effects at concentrations well below the appearance of morphological changes at concentrations that could be found in highly contaminated environments.
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Sublethal Toxicity and Gene Expression Changes in Hydra vulgaris Exposed to Polyethylene and Polypropylene Nanoparticles
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined the sublethal toxicity of polyethylene and polypropylene nanoparticles on the freshwater organism Hydra vulgaris at various concentrations. The study found that both types of plastic nanoparticles caused morphological changes and altered gene expression related to oxidative stress and DNA repair, indicating that even non-lethal concentrations of plastic nanoparticles can disrupt biological processes in aquatic organisms.
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Lab experiments exposed the freshwater invertebrate Hydra to polystyrene nanoplastics (50 and 100 nm) at increasing concentrations for 96 hours. The hydra accumulated the particles and showed reduced regenerative capacity and body contractions at higher doses, demonstrating toxicity to a simple but important freshwater organism.
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Researchers exposed the freshwater cnidarian Hydra attenuata to 50- and 100-nm polystyrene nanoparticles and found size-dependent bioaccumulation, morphological damage, lipid peroxidation, and intracellular liquid crystal formation — with 100-nm particles more toxic per particle count, suggesting that lipid mobilization and organized intracellular structures may represent a novel nanoplastic toxicity mechanism in simple aquatic animals.
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