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Selective bioaccumulation of polystyrene nanoplastics in fetal rat brain and damage to myelin development
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Pregnant rats exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics passed the particles through the placenta into their fetuses' brains, where they accumulated most heavily in the cerebellum. This exposure damaged the protective coating around nerve fibers (myelin) and reduced key brain cells, leading to motor problems in the offspring -- raising concerns about how nanoplastics during pregnancy could affect fetal brain development.
Micro(nano)plastic, as a new type of environmental pollutant, have become a potential threat to the life and health of various stages of biology. However, it is not yet clear whether they will affect brain development in the fetal stage. Therefore, this study aims to explore the potential effects of nanoplastics on the development of fetal rat brains. To assess the allocation of NPs (25 nm and 50 nm) in various regions of the fetal brain, pregnant rats were exposed to concentrations (50, 10, 2.5, and 0.5 mg/kg) of PS-NPs. Our results provided evidence of the transplacental transfer of PS-NPs to the fetal brain, with a prominent presence observed in several cerebral regions, notably the cerebellum, hippocampus, striatum, and prefrontal cortex. This distribution bias might be linked to the developmental sequence of each brain region. Additionally, we explored the influence of prenatal exposure on the myelin development of the cerebellum, given its the highest PS-NP accumulation in offspring. Compared with control rats, PS-NPs exposure caused a significant reduction in myelin basic protein (MBP) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) expression, a decrease in myelin thickness, an increase in cell apoptosis, and a decline in the oligodendrocyte population. These effects gave rise to motor deficits. In conclusion, our results identified the specific distribution of NPs in the fetal brain following prenatal exposure and revealed that prenatal exposure to PS-NPs can suppress myelin formation in the cerebellum of the fetus.
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Transplacental and lactational exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics induces structural and cellular alterations in the hippocampus of rat offspring
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In a study on pregnant rats, tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) passed from mother to baby during pregnancy and breastfeeding, showing up in the offspring's brains and damaging a key memory-related brain region called the hippocampus. The exposed babies had smaller brains, more cell death, and disrupted support cells in the brain — effects that got worse with higher plastic doses. While this was done in rats, not humans, it raises real concerns about whether everyday plastic exposure during pregnancy could affect a developing baby's brain, making it an important area for future human research.
Effects of nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy and lactation on neurodevelopment of rat offspring
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When pregnant and nursing rats were exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics, their offspring showed thinner brain cortexes, disrupted neurotransmitter levels, damaged connections between brain cells, and problems with anxiety and spatial memory. This study suggests that maternal exposure to nanoplastics during pregnancy and breastfeeding could affect brain development in offspring.
[Effects of nanopolystyrene nanoplastic exposure on the development and neurotoxicity of fetal rats during gestation].
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Researchers found that gestational exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics in rats caused dose-dependent reductions in fetal body weight, body length, and brain development, with smaller 25 nm particles producing more pronounced neurotoxic effects than 50 nm particles.
Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics causes brain abnormalities in progeny
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Researchers found that maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics caused brain abnormalities in offspring, demonstrating that nanoplastics can cross maternal barriers and affect neurological development in progeny with implications for developmental toxicology.
Ingested Polystyrene Nanospheres Translocate to Placenta and Fetal Tissues in Pregnant Rats: Potential Health Implications
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In a study on pregnant rats, researchers found that ingested nanoplastics (tiny 25-nanometer plastic spheres) crossed both the intestinal barrier and the placental barrier to reach every fetal organ examined, including the brain, heart, liver, kidneys, and lungs. This is the first study to directly demonstrate that swallowed nanoplastics can travel from a mother's gut to developing fetal tissues. The findings raise serious concerns about potential health effects of nanoplastic exposure during human pregnancy.
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