We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
RETRACTED: Combined effects of a high-fat diet and polyethylene microplastic exposure induce impaired lipid metabolism and locomotor behavior in larvae and adult zebrafish
AI summary Read the abstract
Note: This paper has been retracted. It originally reported that polyethylene microplastics combined with a high-fat diet worsened fat accumulation and liver damage in zebrafish, resembling nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. While the findings suggested concerning interactions between diet and microplastic exposure, the retraction means these results should be interpreted with caution until replicated by other researchers.
Microplastics (MP), tiny plastic particles, can be ingested by fish through their habitat or contaminated food sources. When combined with a high-fat diet (HFD), MP exposure may lead to increased MP accumulation in fish and negative impacts on their health. However, the underlying mechanisms of how MP and HFD interact to promote fat accumulation in fish remain poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the combined effect of HFD and polyethylene MP (PE-MP) in the zebrafish model (Danio rerio) and decipher its molecular mechanisms. Adult zebrafish exposed to the combined HFD and PE-MP showed elevated lipid accumulation, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and abnormal swimming behavior compared to HFD-fed fish. Histological and gene expression analysis revealed severe hepatic inflammation and injury, resembling nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the HFD + PE-MP exposed zebrafish. Moreover, HFD and PE-MP exposure upregulated genes related to lipogenesis (SREBP1, FAS, and C/EBPα) and inflammation (tnfα, il1β, and il-6) in the liver. These findings underscore the interactive effect of environmental pollutants and fish diet, emphasizing the importance of improving fish culture practices to safeguard fish health and human consumers from microplastic contamination through the food chain. This research sheds light on the complex interactions between microplastics and diet, providing valuable insights into the potential risks of microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems and the implications for human health. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms will contribute to international research efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of microplastics on both environmental and public health.
More Papers Like This
Combined effects of high-fat diet and polystyrene microplastic exposure on microplastic bioaccumulation and lipid metabolism in zebrafish
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how a high-fat diet combined with polystyrene microplastic exposure affects zebrafish, finding that obese fish accumulated significantly more microplastics in their tissues. The high-fat diet disrupted lipid metabolism and created conditions that increased microplastic retention in the body. This suggests that diet and body fat levels may influence how much microplastic accumulates in living organisms, with potential implications for human health.
RETRACTED: Developmental toxicity in zebrafish exposed to polyethylene microplastics under static and semi-static aquatic systems
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers evaluated the developmental toxicity of polyethylene microplastics on zebrafish embryos and larvae under both static and semi-static exposure conditions. They found that even low concentrations of microplastics negatively affected hatching rates and caused morphological changes, with the type of exposure system influencing the severity of effects. Note: this paper has been retracted by the journal.
Toxicity of Polystyrene Nanoplastics in the Liver and Intestine of Normal and High-Fat-Diet Juvenile Zebrafish
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed juvenile zebrafish to polystyrene nanoplastics combined with a high-fat diet and found that the combination caused gastrointestinal injury and disrupted lipid metabolism. The nanoplastics alone perturbed gut microbiota stability, and the effects were amplified when paired with a high-fat diet. The study suggests that dietary factors may influence the severity of nanoplastic toxicity, highlighting the importance of considering real-world exposure scenarios.
RETRACTED: Environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastic particles influence larval fish ecology
AI summary Read the abstract
Note: This paper has been retracted by the journal. The original study claimed that microplastic exposure at environmental levels harmed larval fish development and behavior, but the findings were later deemed unreliable. Retracted studies should not be used as evidence for microplastic health effects, though the topic of microplastic impacts on early-life fish development continues to be studied by other research groups.
Chronic Exposure of Adult Zebrafish to Polyethylene and Polyester-based Microplastics: Metabolomic and Gut Microbiome Alterations Reflecting Dysbiosis and Resilience
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polyethylene and polyester microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations and found significant disruptions to metabolic pathways and gut microbiome composition. Polyethylene primarily affected cell membrane compounds and inflammation-related metabolites, while polyester altered lipid metabolism and gut bacterial interactions. The study reveals that chronic microplastic exposure can cause subtle but meaningful shifts in fish metabolism and gut health, even at low concentrations.
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.