We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Chronic exposure to low concentrations of microplastics causing gut tissue damage but non-significant changes in the microbiota of marine medaka larvae (Oryzias melastigma)
AI summary Read the abstract
Marine medaka fish larvae exposed to low concentrations of polyethylene and polylactic acid microplastics for 60 days showed no changes in growth or survival, but their intestinal tissue was visibly damaged with inflammation and loss of gut lining. The gut microbiome remained largely intact despite the physical tissue damage. This study suggests that microplastics can cause hidden gut injury even at low levels that do not affect outward signs of health, raising concerns about subtle damage going undetected.
Microplastics (MPs) have become a popular research topic due to their potential ramifications on aquatic organisms. To evaluate the ecotoxicological impacts of chronic exposure to different microplastics on marine medaka larvae, we exposed medaka larvae to 200 μg/L of polyethylene (PE-200) and polylactic acid (PLA-200) microplastics for 60 days, respectively. The results indicated that both exposures had no significant effect on fish length/weight and did not result in fish mortality. Notably, the structure of intestinal microbiota was not disrupted either. However, microscopy observations of intestinal tissue suggested that exposure to MPs resulted in inflammation of the intestinal tract of fish and significant atrophy and shedding of small intestinal villus. Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) showed that intestinal enrichment of Streptomyces occurred in marine medaka larvae in both MPs treatments, while the PE-200 treatment exhibited a significant enrichment. In addition, the PICRUSt2 prediction indicated significant upregulation of the Novobiocin biosynthesis function in gut microbiota in the PE-200 treatment. Overall, multi-level assessment is necessary to determine the risk of exposure of aquatic organisms to MPs.
More Papers Like This
Low particle concentrations of nanoplastics impair the gut health of medaka
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed Japanese medaka fish to low concentrations of nanoplastics for three months and observed significant damage to gut health, including tissue injury, impaired digestive enzymes, weakened immunity, and disrupted gut bacteria. Even at particle concentrations considered environmentally realistic, the nanoplastics caused measurable harm and increased mortality. The study suggests that long-term exposure to low levels of nanoplastics may pose greater risks to fish health than previously assumed.
Polystyrene microplastics alter the intestinal microbiota function and the hepatic metabolism status in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers fed marine medaka fish polystyrene microplastics of two sizes for 28 days and examined effects on gut microbiota and liver metabolism. They found that microplastic exposure significantly altered the functional composition of gut bacteria and disrupted hepatic metabolic pathways, even without causing visible tissue damage. The study suggests that microplastics can affect fish health through subtle microbiome and metabolic changes that precede obvious physical harm.
Effects of MP Polyethylene Microparticles on Microbiome and Inflammatory Response of Larval Zebrafish
AI summary Read the abstract
Zebrafish larvae exposed to polyethylene microplastics for up to 10 days showed no broad metabolic disturbances or inflammatory changes, but oxidative stress markers increased at 15 days and the gut microbiome was disrupted, with higher levels of bacteria linked to intestinal disease. The findings suggest microplastics alter the microbial environment of fish guts without triggering obvious inflammation.
Microplastic-induced changes in the rainbow trout gut: Insights from transcriptomic, proteomic, and microbial approaches
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists fed rainbow trout tiny plastic particles (from two common plastics, PE and PS) for six weeks and found real damage: gut bacteria balance was disrupted, digestive enzymes were suppressed, and stress and immune responses ramped up, effects that got worse with higher plastic doses. This matters because fish are a major food source and gut health, and this study shows microplastics can quietly harm digestion and immunity even without causing obvious, immediate illness, raising questions about what similar low-level exposure might do to other animals, including humans, over time.
Chronic feeding exposure to virgin and spiked microplastics disrupts essential biological functions in teleost fish
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers fed zebrafish and marine medaka environmentally relevant concentrations of virgin and chemically spiked polyethylene and PVC microplastics over four months. While classical biomarkers showed no changes, significant decreases in growth and disruptions to reproduction, gut integrity, and liver function were observed. The findings suggest that chronic dietary exposure to microplastics can disrupt essential biological functions in fish even without triggering traditional toxicity markers.
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.