We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effects of Subchronic Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics on the Mouse Intestine
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists fed mice tiny plastic particles daily for two months and found real damage to the gut, especially in the lower intestine, including changes in immune response and the barrier that keeps things from leaking through intestinal walls. This is animal research, not proof of the same effect in humans, but it adds to concerns about how the nanoplastics found in everyday products might affect our digestive health over time.
ABSTRACT Nanoplastics (NPs) are being used increasingly in cosmetics, personal care products, foods, automotive products, and cleaning products, as well as being by-products of some industrial processes. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a sub-chronic exposure of NPs on various biological systems, using mice as a model. Adult male mice were administered 500 nm polystyrene (PS) NPs at 0.15 mg/day and 1.5 mg/day, to mimic subchronic exposure to NPs. Control mice were gavaged in the same manner but with sterile water instead of NPs. The mice were weighed weekly and treated daily for 60 days. The mice were then euthanized, and multiple tissues were retrieved and fixed or frozen for subsequent analyses. The intestines were rinsed and divided into pieces of the three regions: duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was performed to evaluate histopathology, and RNA-Seq was conducted on tissues from all three regions. H&E staining revealed few effects on the duodenum, but increasingly pronounced disruption and epithelial alterations in the jejunum and ileum, respectively. RNA-Seq analysis of controls compared to the high-dose (HD; 1.5 mg/day) group supported these observations. The number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was low (19) in the duodenum, higher in the jejunum (114 DEGs), and significantly greater in the ileum (4982 DEGs). Genes associated with immune response, ion transport, and junctional proteins were among the groups of genes most differentially expressed. These results demonstrate the potentially harmful effects of PS NPs on the intestinal system of mice.
More Papers Like This
Chronic exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics induces intestinal mechanical and immune barrier dysfunction in mice
AI summary Read the abstract
In a long-term study, mice that drank water containing polystyrene nanoplastics for 32 weeks developed significant damage to their intestinal barriers and immune defenses. The nanoplastics disrupted the tight junctions that keep the gut lining sealed, caused inflammation, increased oxidative stress, and altered immune cell populations in the intestines. This research suggests that chronic, low-level nanoplastic exposure through drinking water could gradually weaken the gut's ability to protect the body from harmful substances.
Continuous oral exposure to micro- and nanoplastics induced gut microbiota dysbiosis, intestinal barrier and immune dysfunction in adult mice
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers fed mice micro- and nanoplastics at environmentally relevant levels and found significant gut damage, including disrupted gut bacteria, weakened intestinal barriers, and reduced immune function. The ratio of beneficial to harmful gut bacteria shifted, and immune cells in the gut decreased. Importantly, the duration of exposure and the size of plastic particles mattered more than the amount consumed, suggesting even low-level long-term exposure could harm gut health.
Impacts of polystyrene microplastic on the gut barrier, microbiota and metabolism of mice
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene microplastics for six weeks and found that the particles accumulated in the gut, reduced protective mucus secretion, and damaged the intestinal barrier. The microplastics also significantly altered the composition of gut bacteria, decreasing beneficial species and increasing harmful ones. The study suggests that microplastic ingestion could disrupt gut health in mammals by simultaneously impairing the physical barrier and reshaping the microbiome.
Ingested nano- and microsized polystyrene particles surpass the intestinal barrier and accumulate in the body
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers fed mice nano- and microsized polystyrene particles for up to 24 weeks to study intestinal barrier crossing and accumulation. The study found that plastic particles accumulated in the small intestine and distant organs, though they did not promote intestinal inflammation or worsen colitis, while noting that long-term accumulative effects on gastrointestinal health cannot be ruled out.
Intestinal Barrier Damage and Growth Retardation Caused by Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics Through Lactation Milk in Developing Mice
AI summary Read the abstract
In a study on developing mice, polystyrene nanoplastics transferred from mother to pup through breast milk caused delayed weight gain and significant intestinal damage, including shortened gut lining structures and weakened barriers between intestinal cells. The gut was the primary target of damage even at relatively low doses, while organs like the liver and kidneys showed impaired development without obvious toxic injury. These findings are concerning because they suggest that infants could be exposed to nanoplastics through breast milk, with their developing gut being particularly vulnerable.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.