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Melatonin counteracts polyethylene microplastics induced adreno-cortical damage in male albino rats

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 2024 10 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 60 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Amina A. Farag Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Walaa Bayoumie El Gazzar, Amina A. Farag Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Rania E. Sliem, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Heba S. Youssef, Rania E. Sliem, Heba Bayoumi, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Heba Bayoumi, Rania E. Sliem, Rania E. Sliem, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Shaimaa E. Radwaan, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Walaa Bayoumie El Gazzar, Walaa Bayoumie El Gazzar, Hend Elsayed Nasr, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Hend Elsayed Nasr, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Heba S. Youssef, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Amira Elalfy, Amira Elalfy, Hend Elsayed Nasr, Hend Elsayed Nasr, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Shaimaa E. Radwaan, Amira M. Badr, Heba M. Mansour, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Shaimaa E. Radwaan, Heba M. Mansour, Amira Elalfy, Amira Elalfy, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Amira M. Badr, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Tayseir G. Kharboush, Tayseir G. Kharboush, Elshaimaa Ahmed Fahmy Aboelkomsan, Elshaimaa Ahmed Fahmy Aboelkomsan, Rania E. Sliem, Rania E. Sliem, Alaa El‐Din H. Sayed, Amina A. Farag

Summary

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics damaged the adrenal glands of male rats, disrupting cortisol production and reducing genes needed for hormone synthesis. This is the first study to specifically examine microplastic effects on the adrenal glands, which are critical for the body's stress response. The study also showed that melatonin, a natural hormone, provided significant protection against this damage, suggesting a possible way to counteract microplastic-related endocrine disruption.

Polymers

Body Systems

Endocrine Immune

Models

Rat

There are various substances that can disrupt the homeostatic mechanisms of the body, defined as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The persistent nature of microplastics (MPs) is a cause for concern due to their ability to accumulate in food chains and widespread use, making their toxic effects particularly alarming. The potential of MPs for disrupting the endocrine system was observed in multiple tissues. Moreover, the adrenal gland is known to be extremely sensitive to EDCs, while with the effect of MPs on the adrenal gland has not previously been studied. This study aimed to highlight the potential polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) induced adreno-toxic effects rather than exploring the implicated mechanisms and concluding if melatonin (Mel) can afford protection against PE-MPs induced adreno-toxicity. To fulfill the goal, six groups of rats were used; control, Mel, PE-MPs (3.75 mg/kg), PE-MPs (15 mg/kg), PE-MPs (3.75 mg/kg) +Mel, and PE-MPs (15 mg/kg) +Mel. PE-MPs induced toxic changes in the adrenal cortex, which was evident by increased adrenal weight, histopathological examination, and ultrastructural changes detected by electron microscope. A reduction in serum cortisol and an increase in serum adrenocorticotropic hormone resulted from the adreno-toxic effects of PE-MPs. Mechanisms may include the reduction of steroidogenesis-related genes, as PE-MPs drastically reduce mRNA levels of StAR, Nr0b1, Cyp11A1, as well as Cyp11B1. Also, oxidative stress that results from PE-MPs is associated with higher rates of lipid peroxidation and decreased superoxide dismutase and glutathione. PE-MPs inflammatory effect was illustrated by elevated expression of IL-1β and NF-ķB, detected by immunohistochemical staining, in addition to increased expression of caspase-3 and mRNA of Bax, markers of proapoptotic activity. The impacts of PE-MPs were relatively dose-related, with the higher dose showing more significant toxicity than the lower one. Mel treatment was associated with a substantial amelioration of PE-MPs-induced toxic changes. Collectively, this study fills the knowledge gap about the MPs-induced adrenal cortex and elucidates various related toxic mechanisms. It also supports Mel's potential protective activity through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and gene transcription regulatory effects.

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