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Polypropylene microplastics affect the physiology in Drosophila model
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Researchers found that polypropylene microplastics negatively affected the physiology of Drosophila fruit flies, complementing earlier work on polyethylene terephthalate microplastics and demonstrating that different polymer types can impair organism health.
Microplastics (MPs) pollution has been a hot research topic in recent years. MPs are ubiquitous throughout the ecological environment and are eventually accumulated in organisms through inhalation or ingestion. However, given that MPs are inert pollutants, their effects on organisms are not clear. In previous study, we have investigated the effects of polyethylene terephthalate MPs on physiology of Drosophila. What is the effect of polypropylene microplastics (PP-MPs)? The results of our experiments show that being exposed to high concentration of PP-MPs have significant effect on Drosophila. PP-MPs exposure can significantly increase locomotor activity and shorten the time of group sleep in Drosophila. In the presence of high concentrations of PP-MPs, the triglyceride content was reduced in females and their ability of egg production was affected. However, there was no significant effect on the level of protein and carbohydrate, or on the food intake. Our experimental results can provide some preliminary data for assessing the potential hazard of PP-MPs to other organisms.
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Researchers used Drosophila fruit flies as a model to study the physiological effects of PET microplastics, finding that ingestion affected reproduction, lifespan, and gut function. The study suggests that even common plastic types found in food packaging can have measurable biological effects when consumed by living organisms.
Intake of polyamide microplastics affects the behavior and metabolism of Drosophila
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Polyethylene microplastics induce behavioural and developmental deficits in the Drosophila model
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Researchers generated polyethylene microplastics sized 2-10 micrometers and tested their effects on fruit flies (Drosophila). They found that exposure caused severe declines in fly longevity, reduced locomotor function in both larvae and adults, decreased eclosion rates, and increased antioxidant enzyme activity along with stress-response gene activation. The findings provide evidence that polyethylene microplastics can impair growth, development, and survival in a well-established animal model.
Metabolic effects of dietary exposure to polystyrene microplastic and nanoplastic in fruit flies
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Researchers used fruit flies as a model organism to study the metabolic effects of ingesting polystyrene microplastic and nanoplastic particles at environmentally relevant doses. They found that both particle sizes disrupted metabolic processes, with nanoplastics causing more pronounced changes in energy storage and lipid metabolism. The study suggests that dietary exposure to plastic particles, even at levels found in the environment, can meaningfully alter metabolic physiology.
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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.