We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on oxidative stress, histopathology and intestinal microbiota in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Summary
Researchers exposed largemouth bass — a commercially important freshwater fish — to polystyrene nanoplastics (tiny plastic particles 100 nanometers in size) for up to 19 days, finding tissue damage in the gills, liver, and intestines along with elevated markers of cellular stress. While growth was not significantly affected, the fish adjusted their gut microbiome in response, suggesting nanoplastics trigger adaptive but potentially harmful physiological changes.
Nanoplastics (NPs) can be taken up by aquatic organism and profoundly impact the growth and fitness of aquatic animals in the ecosystem. Currently, the influence of NPs in commercial fish is still poorly documented, especially in carnivorous freshwater fish. To investigate the effects of NPs in water on growth performance, oxidative stress, histopathology, and intestinal microbiota of Micropterus salmoides, juvenile fish (initial weight 14.56 ± 0.09 g) were exposed to 10 and 100 μg/L polystyrene NPs (100 nm) for seven days and nineteen days. The results showed that no significant difference was found in growth among all the experimental groups. NPs caused obvious histological changes in gills (e.g., hyperplasia, curvature, fragmentation, capillary dilatation), livers (e.g., hypertrophy, infiltration, lipid droplet, vacuolization) and intestines (e.g., increase/decrease of gut villus density and length, decrease of goblet cells). The SOD and CAT activities in livers of the high NPs (100 μg/L) group were significantly higher than that of the control group after nineteen-day exposure (P < 0.05). The MDA level of the high NPs (100 μg/L) group was significantly higher than that of the control group after seven-day exposure (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found in MDA among all the experimental groups after nineteen-day exposure. M. salmoides might adapt to the environment containing NPs through the changes in the intestine microbiota affecting or promoting the growth of the different bacterial genera. This study provides novel insight beyond the current understanding of the potential toxicological effects and NP contamination in M. salmoides.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Effect of polystyrene nanoplastics on the intestinal histopathology, oxidative stress, and microbiota of Acrossocheilus yunnanensis
Researchers studied the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on the intestinal health of a freshwater fish species and found significant damage to the gut lining, including ruptured tissue and damaged nutrient-absorbing structures. The nanoplastics also increased oxidative stress markers and shifted the composition of gut bacteria, reducing beneficial species. The findings suggest that nanoplastic exposure can compromise both the physical barrier and microbial balance of fish intestines.
Adverse effects of polystyrene microplastics in the freshwater commercial fish, grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella): Emphasis on physiological response and intestinal microbiome
Researchers exposed grass carp to different sizes and concentrations of polystyrene microplastics for up to 14 days, followed by a depuration period, and assessed physiological and intestinal microbiome effects. The study found that microplastics caused histological damage, oxidative stress, and shifts in gut microbial communities, with smaller particles and higher concentrations producing more severe effects.
Polystyrene nano/microplastics induce microbiota dysbiosis, oxidative damage, and innate immune disruption in zebrafish
Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene particles of two different sizes and found that both nano- and micro-sized plastics disrupted gut bacteria, caused oxidative damage, and altered immune responses. The severity of effects depended on particle size and concentration, with smaller particles and higher doses causing more harm. The study suggests that plastic particles in waterways may pose a broader threat to fish health than previously understood, affecting digestion, stress defenses, and immunity simultaneously.
Concurrent impacts of polystyrene nanoplastic exposure and Aeromonas hydrophila infection on oxidative stress, immune response and intestinal microbiota of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)
Researchers studied the combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and a bacterial infection on grass carp, a common freshwater fish. They found that nanoplastic exposure worsened the impact of the infection by increasing oxidative stress, suppressing immune responses, and disrupting the gut microbiome. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution in waterways could make fish more vulnerable to disease by weakening their natural defenses.
Impact of sub-chronic polystyrene nanoplastics exposure on hematology, histology, and endoplasmic reticulum stress-related protein expression in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
Researchers exposed Nile tilapia to polystyrene nanoplastics for an extended period and found the particles caused blood cell changes, tissue damage in the liver and gills, and activated stress responses in cellular structures called the endoplasmic reticulum. Even the lowest concentration tested, which matches levels found in the environment, triggered harmful effects. Since tilapia is one of the most consumed farmed fish worldwide, these results highlight potential food safety concerns from nanoplastic contamination in aquaculture.