We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Evaluation of Liver Toxicity of Neonates Following Intragastric Administration or Intratracheal Instillation of Polyethylene Microplatics to Pregnant Mice
Summary
Researchers found that pregnant mice exposed to polyethylene microplastics via oral ingestion or inhalation passed particles to offspring, causing oxidative stress and inflammation in neonatal livers, with inhalation exposure producing more severe effects than oral exposure.
Background: Current research suggests that humans are exposed to microplastics through consumption of foods and beverages, the airway route, and a variety of other means. Objectives:We evaluated oxidative stress and inflammation from polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) in the neonatal liver through intragastric administration or intratracheal instillation in pregnant mice.Methods: PE-MPs were administered from gestational day 9 to postnatal day 7.The intragastric administration group (0.01 mg/mouse/day or 0.1 mg/mouse/day) and intratracheal instillation group (6 μg/mouse/day or 60 μg/mouse/day) of PE-MPs were administered.After sacrifice, the oxidative stress and inflammation of the neonatal livers were measured.Results: As a result of the oxidative stress caused by PE-MPs in the neonatal livers, glutathione peroxidase decreased in a concentration-dependent manner in the intragastric administration group compared to the control group and intratracheal instillation decreased in high concentration PE-MPs.The catalase level increased at high concentrations of intragastric administration and intratracheal instillation.To confirm the level of inflammation caused by PE-MPs, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and tumor necrosis factoralpha were increased compared to the control group except for intratracheal intilation-high concentration PE-MPs.The C-reactive protein level was decreased by intragastric administration compared to the control group and intratracheal instillation was increased compared to the control group.Conclusions: Despite the difficulty in comparing the toxic intensity between intragastric administration and intratracheal instillation of PE-MPs, our study revealed that oxidative stress and inflammation were induced in the neonatal liver.However, it is necessary to evaluate the toxic effects of microplastics on various organs as well.Overall, the present study indicates that the evaluation of toxic effects of long-term microplastic exposure, potential of microplastic toxicity on next-generation offspring and toxicity mechanism in human should be considered for further investigations.