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Polystyrene microplastics impair skeletal development in zebrafish: Biphasic toxicity and comparison with marine medaka
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Scientists exposed zebrafish (a common lab fish that shares many biological traits with humans) to microplastic particles and found that short-term exposure oddly boosted bone growth, while longer exposure damaged cartilage, weakened spinal structure, and hurt swimming ability. While this study was done in fish, not humans, it adds to growing evidence that microplastics can interfere with normal bone and tissue development, a concern worth watching given how widespread these particles are in our food, water, and environment.
Microplastic pollution poses a growing threat to aquatic ecosystems, yet its impacts on skeletal development in fish remain poorly understood. This study investigated the toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics (PS MPs) on skeletal development in zebrafish and compared the findings with recent reports in marine medaka to identify conserved and species-specific responses. In zebrafish, PS MPs accumulated primarily in the intestine, gill, and liver, leading to spinal deformities and cartilage matrix degradation. Exposure induced biphasic (14 vs. 28 days), time-dependent toxicity: short-term (14 days) stimulated osteogenic activity and locomotion, whereas prolonged exposure (28 days) suppressed cartilage differentiation and reduced swimming performance. Transcriptomic and qPCR analyses revealed dysregulation of key osteogenic and chondrogenic genes. To evaluate cross-species relevance, we also compare our zebrafish data with those from the marine medaka, which do not have osteocytes-a key structural difference that may influence toxic susceptibility. Consistent with marine medaka, both models show PS MP accumulation in gastrointestinal and respiratory tissues, biphasic behavioral changes, and disruption of conserved skeletogenic pathways (e.g., Runx2-Sp7 axis). However, differences in bone cell biology and in the manifestation of skeletal lesions highlight model-specific toxicological nuances. These findings underscore the dual-phase toxicity of PS MPs on fish skeletal systems and emphasize the value of multi-species comparisons for comprehensive ecological risk assessment of microplastics in aquatic environments.
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Polystyrene microplastics disrupt skeletal development in marine medaka Oryzias melastigma
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This study exposed marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) to polystyrene microplastics for 28 days and found dose-dependent impairment of skeletal development, including reduced bone mineralization and deformed vertebral structures. The results suggest that chronic MP exposure during development can disrupt normal bone formation in fish.
Polystyrene nanoplastics mediate skeletal toxicity through oxidative stress and the BMP pathway in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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Exposing zebrafish embryos to polystyrene nanoplastics caused skeletal deformities, reduced body length, and disrupted bone development pathways. The nanoplastics triggered oxidative stress and cell death in developing bone tissue, with longer exposure periods causing worse outcomes. While this study was conducted in fish, the bone development pathways affected are similar to those in humans, raising questions about whether nanoplastic exposure could affect skeletal development.
Embryotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics in zebrafish Danio rerio
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Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene microplastics during early development and observed serious physical deformities, particularly in the spine, tail, and eyes, despite no increase in mortality. The exposed larvae also showed elevated expression of genes involved in oxidative stress defense and cellular detoxification. The findings suggest that microplastics can disrupt critical developmental stages in freshwater fish even when they do not directly cause death.
Uptake Routes and Biodistribution of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Zebrafish Larvae and Toxic Effects on Development
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Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos and larvae to amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics to study uptake routes and biodistribution. The study found that nanoplastics accumulated in target organs and caused toxic developmental effects, providing evidence that these tiny plastic fragments can penetrate biological barriers and interfere with normal development in aquatic organisms.
Effects of nanoplastics and 17α-ethinylestradiol exposure on skeletal development in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae
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Scientists exposed baby zebrafish to tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) and found they disrupted normal bone and skull development—in ways strikingly similar to a known hormone-disrupting chemical found in birth control pills. This matters because it suggests nanoplastics, which are increasingly found in water, food, and even human blood, could potentially interfere with healthy development by acting like an endocrine disruptor. While this study was done in fish, not humans, it raises important questions about how the growing amount of plastic pollution in our environment might affect bone health, especially during early development.
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