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Polystyrene nanoplastics cause developmental abnormalities, oxidative damage and immune toxicity in early zebrafish development
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Zebrafish embryos exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics showed dose-dependent developmental problems including delayed hatching, reduced survival, smaller body size, and the nanoplastics accumulated in critical organs like the eyes, heart, liver, and brain. The particles triggered oxidative stress that damaged cells and activated inflammatory immune responses, demonstrating how nanoplastic contamination in water can cause widespread harm to developing organisms.
Aquatic organisms are increasingly affected by polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs), which have the potential to disrupt development, induce oxidative stress, and impair immune function. This study examined the effects of PSNPs on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos exposed to 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 μg/mL from 2 to 120 h post-fertilization (hpf). The findings indicated that developmental abnormalities occurred in a dose-dependent manner, including delayed hatching, decreased survival rates, reduced body length, smaller eye diameter, and enlarged yolk sac area. PSNPs accumulated in the chorion and yolk sac as early as 6 hpf and were detected in vital tissues, such as the eyes, heart, yolk sac, liver, pancreas, intestine, neuromasts, and tail, immediately after hatching. By 120 hpf, PSNPs significantly reduced swimming distance and velocity. Exposure to PSNPs induced oxidative damage evidenced by altered expression of antioxidant-related genes (CAT1, GPX1A, SOD1, NRF2, KEAP1, HSP70, MT), disrupting cellular homeostasis and causing structural and organ defects. Immune toxicity was marked by dysregulated expression of immune-related genes (IL-1β, IL-6, NF-κB, TNF-α, C3B, TLR-1, TLR-3, TLR-4), indicating inflammation and innate immune activation triggered by oxidative damage. This study highlights the interconnected impacts of developmental abnormalities, oxidative damage, and immune toxicity caused by PSNPs exposure, highlighting the systemic impacts of nanoplastics contamination in aquatic environments.
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Polystyrene nanoplastics induce developmental impairments and vasotoxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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Zebrafish exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics at environmentally realistic concentrations showed developmental problems including heart defects, brain abnormalities, blood vessel damage, and reduced swimming ability. The nanoplastics accumulated on the fish's body and triggered cell damage and oxidative stress even at very low doses. Since zebrafish are commonly used to model human developmental processes, these findings raise concerns about what nanoplastic exposure could mean for early human development.
Polystyrene Nanoplastic Exposure Induces Developmental Toxicity by Activating the Oxidative Stress Response and Base Excision Repair Pathway in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene nanoplastics at various concentrations and found significant developmental abnormalities including reduced hatching rates and increased malformations. The nanoplastics activated oxidative stress responses and DNA repair pathways, indicating cellular damage during critical early development stages. The study provides mechanistic evidence for how nanoplastic exposure can disrupt normal embryonic development in aquatic organisms.
Polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics induce neurotoxicity in zebrafish via oxidative stress and neurotransmitter disruption
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Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics and found that both particle sizes caused neurodevelopmental toxicity, with nanoplastics being more potent. The plastic particles induced oxidative stress in the brain and disrupted neurotransmitter levels critical for normal neural development. The study suggests that microplastic and nanoplastic contamination in aquatic environments may pose significant risks to the neurological development of fish.
Neurotoxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics with different particle sizes at environment-related concentrations on early zebrafish embryos
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Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes at concentrations found in the environment and observed significant brain damage. The nanoplastics caused loss of neurons, shortened nerve fibers, and disrupted brain signaling systems that control behavior. Smaller nanoplastics caused the most severe damage because they could pass through protective barriers more easily, suggesting that the tiniest plastic particles pose the greatest risk to brain development.
Effects of polystyrene nanoplastic size on zebrafish embryo development
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Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene nanoplastics of four sizes and found only the smallest (30 nm) caused mortality and altered oxidative stress and apoptosis gene expression, while larger particles (100–450 nm) were ingested and accumulated in the digestive system without causing developmental malformations.
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