We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
UV-aged microplastics induces neurotoxicity by affecting the neurotransmission in larval zebrafish
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers compared the neurotoxic effects of fresh versus UV-aged polystyrene microplastics on zebrafish larvae. They found that aged microplastics caused more severe behavioral changes and significantly altered levels of key brain chemicals including dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine. The study demonstrates that environmental weathering makes microplastics more neurotoxic, which is an important consideration for assessing the real-world risks of plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems.
Microplastics (MPs) are nearly ubiquitous in aquatic ecosystems and may affect aquatic organisms. In this study, virgin and aged polystyrene MPs (PS-MPs) of size 1 μm were selected to analyze their adverse effects on larvae zebrafish. Exposure to PS-MPs significantly reduced the average swimming speed of zebrafish, and the behavioral effects caused by aged PS-MPs on zebrafish were more pronounced. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that 10-100 μg/L of PS-MPs accumulated in tissues of zebrafish. As an endpoint of neurotransmitter concentration, exposure to aged PS-MPs at doses ranging from 0.1 to 100 μg/L significantly increased the dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and acetylcholine (ACh) levels in zebrafish. Similarly, exposure to aged PS-MPs significantly altered the expression of genes related to these neurotransmitters (e.g., dat, 5ht1aa, and gabral genes). According to Pearson correlation analyses, neurotransmissions was significantly correlated with neurotoxic effects of aged PS-MPs. Thus, aged PS-MPs cause neurotoxicity in zebrafish through their effects on DA, 5-HT, GABA, and ACh neurotransmissions. The results highlight the importance of the neurotoxicity of aged PS-MPs in zebrafish, which has important implications for the risk assessment of aged MPs and the conservation of aquatic ecosystems.
More Papers Like This
Photoaged polystyrene microplastics result in neurotoxicity associated with neurotransmission and neurodevelopment in zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio)
AI summary Read the abstract
This study found that sunlight-aged microplastics are more toxic to zebrafish brains than fresh ones, disrupting nerve signaling chemicals and motor neuron development at very low concentrations. The findings are important because most microplastics in the environment have been weathered by sunlight, meaning their real-world neurotoxic effects may be worse than laboratory tests using fresh plastics would suggest.
Photoaged microplastics induce neurotoxicity via oxidative stress and abnormal neurotransmission in zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio)
AI summary Read the abstract
This study found that microplastics aged by sunlight were more toxic to zebrafish larvae than fresh microplastics, causing brain damage and abnormal behavior. The sun-aged particles triggered greater oxidative stress and disrupted neurotransmitter systems in the developing fish. This is concerning because most microplastics in the environment have been weathered by sunlight, meaning the real-world health risks may be greater than lab studies using fresh plastics suggest.
Chronic exposure to UV-aged microplastics induces neurotoxicity by affecting dopamine, glutamate, and serotonin neurotransmission in Caenorhabditis elegans
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that UV-aged microplastics caused more severe neurotoxic effects than pristine microplastics when worms were chronically exposed to low concentrations. The aged particles disrupted dopamine, glutamate, and serotonin signaling pathways and caused visible neurodegeneration in the test organisms. The study suggests that microplastics become more harmful as they weather in the environment, which is an important consideration for assessing real-world exposure risks.
Influence of ultraviolet-aging and adsorbed pollutants on toxicological effects of polyvinyl chloride microplastics to zebrafish
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how UV aging changes polyvinyl chloride microplastics and their toxicity to zebrafish, both alone and when carrying adsorbed pollutants. They found that aged microplastics caused more severe gut damage and oxidative stress than pristine particles, due to increased free radicals on their surfaces. When carrying adsorbed chlorpyrifos or erythromycin, the microplastics served as pollutant carriers into fish, producing greater behavioral disruption and gut microbiome alterations.
Photoaged microplastics induce neurotoxicity associated with damage to serotonergic, glutamatergic, dopaminergic, and GABAergic neuronal systems in Caenorhabditis elegans
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that sunlight-aged microplastics caused more severe brain and nerve damage than fresh microplastics in lab worms, disrupting four major neurotransmitter systems: serotonin, glutamate, dopamine, and GABA. Even at very low, environmentally realistic concentrations, the aged particles impaired movement and altered gene expression related to nerve signaling. Since most microplastics in the real world have been weathered by sunlight, this study suggests that the neurotoxic risks of environmental microplastic exposure may be greater than studies using pristine particles indicate.
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.