We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effects of polypropylene and polyethylene on the antioxidant system of the marine rotifer Brachionus koreanus
AI summary Read the abstract
Exposing the marine rotifer Brachionus koreanus to polypropylene fragments and polyethylene beads showed that PP fragments increased intracellular reactive oxygen species and elevated antioxidant enzyme activity in a size- and concentration-dependent manner, while PE beads produced distinct oxidative stress profiles, with polymer type governing gene expression direction. The polymer- and shape-dependent oxidative toxicity in marine zooplankton highlights how different plastics pose distinct biological threats to the base of marine food webs, complicating broad ecological risk assessments.
Microplastic (MP) pollution is a global environmental concern due to their high production and improper management. Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) are the most abundant MPs found in the coastal areas of South Korea. However, little information is available on the toxic effects of these environmentally relevant MPs on marine zooplankton. This study aimed to investigate the size- and shape-dependent toxicity of MPs in a marine rotifer. In this study, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) content and antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; and glutathione S-transferase, GST) were measured in the marine rotifer Brachionus koreanus after 24 h of exposure to small- and large-sized PP fragments and PE beads. Additionally, the transcriptional modulation of antioxidant enzyme-coding genes was examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Intracellular ROS level significantly increased with PP fragment in a size- and concentration-dependent manner, while it decreased with PE beads. Activities of SOD, CAT, and GST were elevated in most MP-exposed groups. PP fragments downregulated the mRNA expression of most antioxidant enzyme-coding genes, whereas PE beads upregulated their expression. These findings suggest that PP and PE can induce oxidative stress and exert size- and shape-dependent effects on antioxidant systems. This study will enhance our understanding of molecular mechanisms through which environmentally relevant MPs impact marine zooplankton.
More Papers Like This
Influence of polystyrene microplastics on rotifer (Brachionus calyciflorus) growth, reproduction, and antioxidant responses
AI summary Read the abstract
Polystyrene microplastics trigger oxidative stress in the freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus, increasing reactive oxygen species while impairing growth, reproduction, and the antioxidant enzyme PHGPx in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings demonstrate that microplastics can disrupt the antioxidant defense systems of small aquatic invertebrates, with implications for food web stability in contaminated freshwater ecosystems.
The Combined Effect of Plastic Particles Size and Concentration on Rotifers’ (Brachionus plicatilis) Performance
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed the marine rotifer Brachionus plicatilis to polystyrene microspheres across multiple sizes and concentrations for 20 days, finding that near-nanometer particles at high concentrations severely impaired body size, maturity timing, reproduction, and survival, reducing net reproductive yield to one-third of controls.
Impact of Microplastics and Nanomaterials on Fish Health: Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense Mechanisms
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers review how exposure to microplastics, pesticides, and nanoparticles triggers oxidative stress in fish by generating reactive oxygen species, and examine how fish antioxidant defense mechanisms respond to these combined environmental stressors with implications for seafood safety and aquatic health.
Changes in induced-antipredation defense traits and transcriptome regulation of rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus in response to nanoplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics suppressed the defensive spine-growing response of freshwater rotifers facing predators, with molecular analysis pointing to disruption of the HIF-1 signaling pathway. This shows that even tiny concentrations of nanoplastics can undermine the survival instincts of microscopic aquatic animals, with potential ripple effects up the food chain.
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.