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Polystyrene nanoplastics alter intestinal toxicity of 2,4-DTBP in a sex-dependent manner in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene nanoplastics combined with an industrial chemical called 2,4-DTBP and found that the toxic effects on the intestines differed between males and females. In males, the nanoplastics made the chemical's gut damage worse, while in females the combination actually reduced harm compared to the chemical alone. The study highlights that sex-specific biological differences can significantly change how organisms respond to combined plastic and chemical pollution.
Nanoplastics (NPs) and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (2,4-DTBP) are ubiquitous emerging environmental contaminants detected in aquatic environment. While the intestinal toxicity of 2,4-DTBP alone has been studied, its combined effects with NPs remain unclear. Herein, adult zebrafish were exposed to 80 nm polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) or/ and 2,4-DTBP for 28 days. With co-exposure of PS-NPs, impact of 2,4-DTBP on feeding capacity and intestinal histopathology was enhanced in males while attenuated in females. Addition of PS-NPs significantly decreased the uptake of 2,4-DTBP in females, while the intestinal concentrations of 2,4-DTBP were not different between the sexes in co-exposure groups. Furthermore, lower intestinal pH and higher contents of digestive enzymes were detected in male fish, while bile acid was significantly increased in co-exposed females. In addition, co-exposure of PS-NPs stimulated female fish to remodel microbial composition to potentially enhance xenobiotics degradation, while negative Aeromonas aggravated inflammation in males. These results indicated that in the presence of PS-NPs, the gut microenvironment in females can facilitate the detoxification of 2,4-DTBP, while exaggerating toxiciy in males. Overall, this study demonstrates that toxicological outcomes of NPs-chemical mixtures may be modified by sex-specific physiology and microbiota composition, furthering understanding for environmental risk assessment and management of aquatic environments.
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Sex-specific reproductive toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and DEHP in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics and the plasticizer DEHP affect reproduction in male and female zebrafish when exposure occurs individually or together. They found that combined exposure caused gonadal tissue damage and oxidative stress in both sexes, but with strikingly different hormonal responses between males and females. The study suggests that nanoplastics and plastic additives disrupt reproductive endocrine function in sex-specific ways through the hormonal signaling axis.
Gender-specific effects of polystyrene nanoplastic exposure on triclosan-induced reproductive toxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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When zebrafish were exposed to both nanoplastics and triclosan (an antimicrobial chemical common in personal care products), the effects on reproduction differed between sexes. In males, nanoplastics increased triclosan levels in the testes and worsened sperm production problems, while in females, nanoplastics actually reduced triclosan in the ovaries and lessened some reproductive harm -- showing that nanoplastics can alter how the body absorbs and responds to other environmental chemicals.
Female zebrafish are more affected than males under polystyrene microplastics exposure
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Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics and discovered that female fish were significantly more affected than males, showing greater gut microbiota disruption and metabolic changes in the liver. The microplastics accumulated more in the gills than the gut, and female fish experienced disrupted sex hormones and reduced egg production. The study highlights that microplastic toxicity can vary substantially between sexes, with potential consequences for fish population health.
Life cycle exposure to differentially charged polystyrene nanoplastics leads to gender-specific particle accumulation and neurotoxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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Zebrafish exposed to nanoplastics with different surface charges throughout their entire life cycle showed brain damage, behavior changes, and disrupted brain chemistry. The effects depended on both the type of charge on the plastic and the sex of the fish, with positively charged nanoplastics accumulating most in the brain. This research suggests that the surface properties of nanoplastics matter for their neurotoxicity and that long-term exposure could affect brain health differently in males and females.
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Reproduction Is Affected by Life-Cycle Exposure to Differently Charged Polystyrene Nanoplastics with Sex-Specific Responses
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Zebrafish were exposed throughout a full life cycle (120 days) to uncharged, positively charged, and negatively charged polystyrene nanoplastics at 10 micrograms per liter and assessed for reproductive effects. All three nanoplastic types disrupted sex hormone levels and reproductive gene expression, with effects differing by surface charge and biological sex.
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