We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Reproduction Is Affected by Life-Cycle Exposure to Differently Charged Polystyrene Nanoplastics with Sex-Specific Responses
AI summary Read the abstract
Zebrafish were exposed throughout a full life cycle (120 days) to uncharged, positively charged, and negatively charged polystyrene nanoplastics at 10 micrograms per liter and assessed for reproductive effects. All three nanoplastic types disrupted sex hormone levels and reproductive gene expression, with effects differing by surface charge and biological sex.
While nanoplastics (NPs) are distributed ubiquitously in the environment, limited information is available for assessing the effects of different charges on their surfaces on the reproduction of aquatic vertebrates, especially at environmentally realistic concentrations. In this study, starting with embryos, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to 10 μg/L polystyrene (PS, no charge), PS–NH2 (positive charge), or PS-COOH (negative charge) nanoplastics during a full life cycle (120 days) and their effects on reproductive performances, sex hormones, and expression of genes associated with steroidogenic pathways were investigated. Alterations of vitellogenin (VTG) and DNA methylation, as well as the development of offspring (F1) without subsequent chemical exposure, were further examined. The fecundity of females was significantly decreased by exposure to 10 μg/L PS or PS-COOH. In females, testosterone content was significantly higher along with down-regulation of cyp19a1a upon treatment with differently charged PS. The significant decrease of 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) in male plasma reduced the proportion of mature spermatocytes in the testis. Parental exposure to differently charged PS resulted in the abnormal development of F1 in clean water. Comprehensive analysis showed that life-cycle exposure of zebrafish to differently charged PS affects reproductive performance in a sex-specific manner and impairs the development of F1. This study provides a theoretical foundation for risk management measures of differently charged nanoplastics.
More Papers Like This
Life cycle exposure to differentially charged polystyrene nanoplastics leads to gender-specific particle accumulation and neurotoxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
AI summary Read the abstract
Zebrafish exposed to nanoplastics with different surface charges throughout their entire life cycle showed brain damage, behavior changes, and disrupted brain chemistry. The effects depended on both the type of charge on the plastic and the sex of the fish, with positively charged nanoplastics accumulating most in the brain. This research suggests that the surface properties of nanoplastics matter for their neurotoxicity and that long-term exposure could affect brain health differently in males and females.
Sex-specific reproductive toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and DEHP in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics and the plasticizer DEHP affect reproduction in male and female zebrafish when exposure occurs individually or together. They found that combined exposure caused gonadal tissue damage and oxidative stress in both sexes, but with strikingly different hormonal responses between males and females. The study suggests that nanoplastics and plastic additives disrupt reproductive endocrine function in sex-specific ways through the hormonal signaling axis.
Charge-specific adverse effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on zebrafish (Danio rerio) development and behavior
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed developing zebrafish to positively and negatively charged nanoplastics and found that the positively charged particles were significantly more toxic, accumulating in the brain and gut and causing developmental delays and brain cell death. The two types of nanoplastics affected different neurotransmitter pathways and interacted with different brain receptors, explaining their distinct behavioral effects. The study demonstrates that the surface charge of nanoplastics plays a critical role in determining their toxicity to developing organisms.
Female zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics induces reproductive toxicity in mother and their offspring
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed female zebrafish to polystyrene nanoplastics for six weeks and found the particles disrupted sex hormone levels and oocyte development, reducing egg production in the exposed generation and carrying endocrine disruption effects into unexposed offspring through the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
Impacts of Environmental Concentrations of Nanoplastics on Zebrafish Neurobehavior and Reproductive Toxicity
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed zebrafish to environmentally realistic levels of polystyrene nanoplastics and found they caused both brain and reproductive damage. The nanoplastics disrupted neurotransmitter signaling and impaired the hormonal pathway connecting the brain to reproductive organs, with different effects in males and females. These findings suggest that even low-level nanoplastic exposure could affect both brain function and fertility in aquatic life that humans may consume.
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.