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Chronic exposure to polytetrafluoroethylene microplastics caused sex-specific effects in the model insect, Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae)
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Researchers exposed fruit flies to polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) microplastics over 20 days and observed different effects depending on sex. Males showed more significant changes in energy metabolism and movement, while females experienced greater impacts on reproductive output. The study suggests that microplastic exposure can cause sex-specific biological effects even in small model organisms.
Microplastics (MPs) have become a prominent environmental concern due to their ubiquity in various ecosystems and widespread distribution through multiple channels. In this study, the oral effects of 2,000 mesh polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) microplastics were tested against Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen), at concentrations of 0, 0.1, 1, 10, and 20. After exposure to a microplastic-containing medium for 20 days, energy metabolism, fecundity, spontaneous movement, and sleeping time were measured. The study results showed that glucose levels in male flies were significantly reduced after exposure to PTFE-MPs. Measurement of lipid and protein levels indicated an increase in males but decrease in females, whereas these changes were not statistically significant. Reduction in sleep time was also observed, especially in males at the concentration of 20 g/l. Our study indicates that chronic exposure of PTFE-MPs can change energy metabolism and the amount of sleep on D. melanogaster in a sex dependent and dose dependent way. The results of our study are hoped to contribute to a better understanding of the effects of microplastics as new pollutants on insects.
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Researchers fed fruit flies (Drosophila) polystyrene microplastics and found toxic effects that differed between males and females. Exposed flies showed changes in feeding behavior, digestion, and excretion, with females experiencing greater reproductive impacts. This study is significant because it demonstrates that microplastic toxicity can be sex-specific, suggesting that health effects in humans might also differ between men and women.
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Drosophila melanogaster flies exposed to PMMA microplastics for 20 days showed sex-specific responses — males had enhanced motor activity while females showed metabolic disruption and shortened lifespan — highlighting the importance of considering sex differences in microplastic toxicity studies.
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This mini-review synthesized studies on how polystyrene and PET microplastics affect Drosophila melanogaster across multiple biological levels including sex-specific responses, physiology, behavior, development, and transgenerational effects. Male Drosophila showed greater sensitivity to microplastics with higher mortality, and effects were both concentration- and size-dependent.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.