Teratological, neurochemical and histomorphic changes in the limbic areas of F1 mice progeny due to co-parental polystyrene nanoplastic exposure

In the present study, co-parental exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) elicits profound teratological impacts, including skeletal and visceral malformations, post-natal effects on neonatal growth and neurobehavioral development in F1 progeny. A comprehensive investigation was conducted on Swiss albino mice fetuses, neonates (PND 1-21) and adult mice offsprings (PND 60) following parental exposure during spermatogenesis and oogenesis period, as well as continued maternal exposure during gestation and weaning. The parental mice were administered PS-NPs via oral gavage at low dose (0.2 mg/kg/day) and high dose (1 mg/kg/day). Both male and female parental mice were exposed to PS-NPs for 60 days and 14 days, respectively before mating. After the mating, the pregnant female mice continued to receive PS-NPs treatment during the gestation, till the subsequent weaning period. Our findings revealed that PS-NPs led to significant reductions in growth, and heightened skeletal and visceral anomalies in developing fetuses. Exposure further impaired reflexes in neonatal mice such as grasping, surface righting and negative geotaxis. Moreover, the adult progeny also exhibited learning impairments. Neurodevelopmental assessment unveiled alterations in neurotransmitter levels, antioxidant enzyme activities, and structural changes in key limbic areas such as the cortex, hippocampus, and hypothalamus of adult mice offspring. These alterations included increased vacuolization, vascular dilation, and reduced pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus. Thus, this transgenerational study underscores the detrimental effects of PS-NPs on both prenatal and postnatal development, emphasizing teratological and enduring neurological consequences in the limbic regions of F1 progeny mice brains.