We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Exploring Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Dysregulation in Lung Tissues of Offspring Rats Exposed to Prenatal Polystyrene Microplastics: Effects of Melatonin Treatment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that rat pups exposed to polystyrene microplastics before birth showed significant oxidative stress and metabolic disruption in their lung tissues. The prenatal exposure altered nucleic acid metabolism and amino acid profiles in the lungs of newborn pups. Encouragingly, treatment with melatonin significantly improved lung function and reduced tissue damage in the affected offspring.
Metabolomics research provides a clearer understanding of an organism's metabolic state and enables a more accurate representation of its functional performance. This study aimed to investigate changes in the metabolome of lung tissues resulting from prenatal exposure to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) and to understand the underlying mechanisms of lung damage in rat offspring. We conducted metabolomic analyses of lung tissue from seven-day-old rat pups exposed to prenatal PS-MPs. Our findings revealed that prenatal exposure to PS-MPs led to significantly increased oxidative stress in lung tissues, characterized by notable imbalances in nucleic acid metabolism and altered profiles of specific amino acids. Furthermore, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of melatonin treatment on lung function in 120-day-old offspring and found that melatonin treatment significantly improved lung function and histologic change in the affected offspring. This study provides valuable biological insights into the mechanisms underlying lung damage caused by prenatal PS-MPs exposure. Future studies should focus on validating the results of animal experiments in humans, exploring additional therapeutic mechanisms of melatonin, and developing suitable protocols for clinical use.
More Papers Like This
Melatonin Alleviates the Damage of Polystyrene Microplastics to Porcine Oocytes by Reducing Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Damage, and Regulating Autophagy and Apoptosis Levels
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated whether the antioxidant melatonin could protect porcine oocytes from damage caused by polystyrene microplastics. The study found that microplastics at 30 micrograms per milliliter significantly impaired oocyte maturation, but melatonin treatment helped alleviate this damage by reducing oxidative stress, protecting mitochondrial function, and regulating autophagy and cell death pathways.
Melatonin mitigates polystyrene nanoplastics-induced impairment of oocyte maturation in mice
AI summary Read the abstract
Mice were exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics for 35 days, and their egg cells were then matured in culture. Exposure impaired maturation and fertilization. Adding melatonin to the culture medium restored mitochondrial function, lowered oxidative stress and eased the defects.
Melatonin counteracts polyethylene microplastics induced adreno-cortical damage in male albino rats
AI summary Read the abstract
Male rats were given polyethylene microplastics at two doses, with or without melatonin. The study is the first to look at the adrenal gland, and it found toxic effects there. Rats that also received melatonin showed less adrenal damage.
Prenatal melatonin reprograms liver injury in male pups caused by maternal exposure to a high-fat diet and microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Pregnant rats were fed a high-fat diet, with or without microplastics and melatonin, and their male pups were examined at seven days old. Pups from the high-fat diet and microplastics group had more liver fat, cell death, inflammation and oxidative stress. These measures were lower in pups whose mothers also received melatonin.
Protective effects of melatonin against polystyrene nanoplastic–induced placental dysfunction and adverse pregnancy outcomes in rats
AI summary Read the abstract
In pregnant rats, exposure to nanoplastics (tiny plastic particles found in everyday pollution) damaged the placenta and harmed pregnancy outcomes by increasing cell-damaging stress. Melatonin, a hormone your body makes naturally (and that's sold as a sleep supplement), helped protect against this damage when given to the rats. While this is early animal research and hasn't been tested in humans yet, it raises hopeful questions about whether melatonin could someday help protect pregnancies from the growing problem of plastic pollution in our environment.
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.