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Particle size-dependent neurotoxicity of microplastics in zebrafish (Danio rerio): Spatially resolved lipidomics links metabolic dysregulation to neurological disorders
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Researchers exposed zebrafish to polypropylene microplastics of different sizes and used spatial lipidomic imaging to show size-dependent disruptions in brain lipid metabolism, linking smaller particles to greater neurological disruption and identifying specific lipid dysregulation patterns.
Microplastics (MPs) are persistent environmental contaminants that pose escalating threats to ecosystem integrity and human health. However, spatial alterations in lipid metabolism following MP exposure remain poorly characterized. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying MP toxicity, lipidomics coupled with Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI) was employed to visualize polypropylene microplastics (PP-MPs) induced molecular disruptions in zebrafish. Lipid dysregulation was predominantly localized to muscle, intestinal and brain tissues. Changes in the spatial distribution of lipids were associated with MP ingestion, and specific molecular ions indicative of MP toxicity were identified. Region-specific perturbations in polyunsaturated fatty acids, phospholipids, sulfatides, triacylglycerols, and bile acid intermediates were concurrently visualized for the first time. The results demonstrated that PP-MPs, particularly smaller particles, induced inflammation, disrupted glycerophospholipid metabolism, and caused neurological damage. By correlating spatial lipid profiles with phenotypic outcomes, this study could provide novel insights into the mechanistic link between MP exposure and lipid metabolic disturbances, thereby informing ecological risk assessments.
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Researchers compared metabolic profiles in zebrafish intestines after exposure to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes, finding that smaller particles caused more severe metabolic disruption including altered lipid metabolism and amino acid pathways in a size-dependent manner.
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Researchers compared how micro-sized and nano-sized polystyrene plastic particles affect fat metabolism in zebrafish liver cells. They found that both sizes were taken up by cells, but the smaller nanoplastics caused more pronounced disruptions to lipid profiles and triggered cell death pathways. The findings underscore that particle size matters when assessing the biological impact of plastic pollution on fish.
Size-Dependent Disruption of Lipid Metabolism by Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastics in Caenorhabditis elegans Revealed Through Multi-Omics and Functional Genetic Validation
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Researchers used the model organism C. elegans to study how polystyrene particles of different sizes affect lipid metabolism, finding that both 100-nanometer and 1-micrometer particles disrupted fat storage and lipid processing. Multi-omics analysis identified four core genes governing the size-dependent metabolic disruption, and elevated levels of specific lipid metabolites confirmed that microplastics can meaningfully interfere with lipid homeostasis.
From particle size to brain function: a zebrafish-based review of micro/nanoplastic-induced neurobehavioral toxicity and mechanistic pathways
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This review uses zebrafish as a model to examine how micro- and nanoplastics cause neurobehavioral toxicity, linking particle size to brain function disruption. Researchers summarize evidence that these plastic particles impair fish behavior and cause molecular-level damage in the nervous system. The findings highlight the growing concern that micro- and nanoplastics are emerging neurotoxicants in aquatic environments.
Metabolomic profiling reveals the intestinal toxicity of different length of microplastic fibers on zebrafish (Danio rerio)
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Researchers exposed zebrafish to microplastic fibers of two different lengths and found that longer fibers caused more severe intestinal damage and reduced food intake by 54-67%. Metabolomic analysis revealed that the fibers disrupted lipid and fatty acid metabolism in the gut, promoting oxidative damage and inflammation. The study demonstrates that microplastic fiber length is an important factor in determining the severity of intestinal toxicity in aquatic organisms.
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