We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Polystyrene microplastics cause tissue damages, sex-specific reproductive disruption and transgenerational effects in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed marine medaka fish to environmentally realistic concentrations of polystyrene microplastics and found tissue damage, oxidative stress, and sex-specific reproductive disruption. The effects carried over to the next generation even without direct microplastic exposure. The study provides evidence that microplastics at levels found in the ocean can cause lasting biological harm across generations in fish.
The ubiquity of microplastics in the world's ocean has aroused great concern. However, the ecological effects of microplastics at environmentally realistic concentrations are unclear. Here we showed that exposure of marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) to environmentally relevant concentrations of 10 μm polystyrene microplastics for 60 days not only led to microplastic accumulation in the gill, intestine, and liver, but also caused oxidative stress and histological changes. Moreover, 2, 20, and 200 μg/L microplastics delayed gonad maturation and decreased the fecundity of female fish. Alterations of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis were investigated to reveal the underlying mechanisms, and gene transcription analysis showed that microplastic exposure had significantly negative regulatory effects in female HPG axis. Transcription of genes involved in the steroidogenesis pathway in females were also downregulated. This disruption resulted in decreased concentrations of 17β-estradiol (E) and testosterone (T) in female plasma. Furthermore, parental exposure to 20 μg/L microplastics postponed the incubation time and decreased the hatching rate, heart rate, and body length of the offspring. Overall, the present study demonstrated for the first time that environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics had adverse effects on the reproduction of marine medaka and might pose a potential threat to marine fish populations.
More Papers Like This
Chronic dietary exposure to polystyrene microplastics in maturing Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes)
AI summary Read the abstract
Japanese medaka fish were fed diets containing polystyrene microplastics for 10 weeks during maturation, finding no tissue translocation or behavioral changes but a dose-dependent decrease in egg production in mature females. The results suggest chronic dietary MP exposure may impair reproduction even without systemic distribution.
Adaptation of life-history traits and trade-offs in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) after whole life-cycle exposure to polystyrene microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted a whole-life-cycle exposure of marine medaka to polystyrene microplastics and observed effects on hatching, growth, and reproduction across generations. Microplastics accumulated on eggshells, reduced hatching rates and larval body length, and altered reproductive investment strategies. The study suggests that chronic microplastic exposure can trigger life-history trade-offs in fish, potentially affecting population dynamics over multiple generations.
Polystyrene microplastics induced male reproductive toxicity and transgenerational effects in freshwater prawn
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics caused significant reproductive harm in male freshwater prawns, including oxidative stress in testis tissue, hormonal imbalances, and reduced sperm quality. Notably, the offspring of exposed prawns also showed reduced survival and weakened immunity even when they were not directly exposed to microplastics. The study reveals that microplastic exposure can produce transgenerational effects in aquatic organisms, passing harm from parents to offspring.
Multigenerational effects of combined exposure of triphenyltin and micro/nanoplastics on marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma): From molecular levels to behavioral response
AI summary Read the abstract
This study exposed marine medaka fish to a combination of micro/nanoplastics and triphenyltin, a toxic chemical used in paints and plastics. The pollutants caused oxidative stress, hormone imbalances, and behavioral changes that carried over to the next generation of fish. The findings show that microplastics combined with other environmental pollutants can cause harm that gets passed down to offspring, raising concerns about long-term effects on marine food webs.
From gonads to generations: Mechanistic insights into reproductive disruption by polystyrene nanoplastics and co-contaminants in fish
AI summary Read the abstract
This review synthesizes current research on how polystyrene nanoplastics impair reproductive health in fish, including disruption of gonad structure, hormone levels, and gene regulation along the reproductive axis. Researchers found that nanoplastics can cause oxidative stress and inflammation in reproductive tissues and may even affect offspring development. The findings raise concerns about the long-term effects of nanoplastic pollution on fish populations and aquatic ecosystem health.
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.