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Impact of polyvinyl chloride microplastic exposure on the hepatopancreas metabolism of Pinctada fucata martensii: Insights from metabolomics
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Researchers exposed pearl oysters to PVC microplastics and used metabolomics to track changes in the animals' liver-like organ. They found that microplastic exposure disrupted amino acid and lipid metabolism, with signs of potential neurotoxicity and oxidative damage, demonstrating that common plastic pollutants can meaningfully alter the biological processes of shellfish.
Microplastics (MPs) are prevalent throughout the oceans and pose a significant global environmental concern due to their detrimental effects on various living organisms. While researchers have investigated the toxicity mechanisms of MPs in marine species, there is a need for a more comprehensive understanding, particularly regarding the potential adverse effects on the growth and metabolism of bivalves. In this study, indoor exposure experiments were conducted on Pinctada fucata martensii to examine the impact of commercial polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-MPs (50 μm, 15 mg/L). The aim was to determine the effects of MPs on the hepatopancreas metabolism of P. f. martensii. Non-targeted metabolomics analysis indicated alterations in the hepatopancreatic metabolic of P. f. martensii following exposure to PVC-MPs. A total of 32, 27, and 154 differential metabolites (SDM) were identified in EG (1-d) vs CG (1-d), EG (15-d) vs CG (15-d), and EG (1-d) vs EG (15-d), respectively (VIP >1 and P < 0.05). Further examination of metabolic pathways revealed that PVC-MPs disrupted the metabolism of amino acids , particularly alanine , aspartic acid , and glutamic acid metabolism; this suggests that the organism may have developed neurotoxicity . Sphingolipid metabolites showed a significant up-regulation in both EG (15-d) vs CG (15-d), as well as in EG (1-d) vs EG (15-d), indicating lipid peroxidation in the hepatopancreas of P. f. martensii following PVC-MPs exposure. Additionally, in EG (1-d) vs CG (1-d), starch and sucrose metabolism were significantly inhibited, glycolysis or gluconeogenesis pathways were promoted, and changes in energy metabolism were promoted. This study sheds light on the impact of MPs on the metabolism of bivalves, offering fresh insights into the detrimental effects of MPs on aquatic organisms . • PVC-MPs exposure can affect the key metabolites and metabolic pathways of P. f. martensii. • PVC-MPs exposure affected lipid, carbohydrate, amino acid and energy metabolism. • PVC-MPs exposure may lead to neurotoxicity in P. f. martensii.
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