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RNA sequencing analysis of embryos exposed to nanoplastics: effects on developmental and transcriptomic alteration
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Researchers exposed mouse preimplantation embryos to nanoplastics and used RNA sequencing to assess developmental and transcriptomic effects. NP exposure disrupted zygotic genome activation and early cell cycle gene expression, suggesting that nanoplastics during critical early developmental windows could impair embryo viability.
Abstract The increasing prevalence of nanoplastics (NPs) in the environment has raised concerns regarding their potential risks to ecosystems and human health. NP exposure has been shown to interfere with cellular processes; however, their effects on preimplantation embryonic development remain unclear. Given the critical role of zygotic genome activation and early cell cycle progression, disruption during this period can significantly affect embryonic viability. To investigate the molecular effects of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-NPs on early embryonic development, mouse zygotes were exposed to 0.1 or 1 mg/mL PMMA-NPs, and RNA sequencing was performed on four-cell stage embryos. Differential gene expression analysis revealed that 0.1 mg/mL NP exposure affected genes related to DNA damage repair, transcriptional regulation, and cellular homeostasis while 1 mg/mL NP exposure altered the expression of genes associated with apoptotic signaling, cell cycle arrest, and failure of blastocyst formation, suggesting a concentration-dependent effect on developmental progression. Thus, PMMA-NP exposure disrupts early embryonic development by inducing specific transcriptomic changes that potentially affect genome integrity and developmental competency. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying NP-induced embryo toxicity and elucidate the effect of NPs on preimplantation embryo development.
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Transcriptomic analysis of preimplantation mouse embryos exposed to nanoplastics using RNA sequencing
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Researchers exposed mouse embryos at the earliest developmental stage to nanoplastics made of polymethylmethacrylate and performed RNA sequencing at the four-cell stage. They found concentration-dependent disruptions, with lower doses affecting DNA damage repair and transcriptional regulation genes, while higher doses altered genes involved in apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and blastocyst formation. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure during preimplantation development can compromise genome integrity and embryonic viability.
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Using advanced spatial gene-mapping technology, researchers found that prenatal exposure to nanoplastics caused significant changes in gene activity throughout the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for learning and memory, in rat offspring. The nanoplastics altered the expression of genes involved in brain cell communication, energy production, and development. This study provides detailed evidence that nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy could disrupt brain development in ways that may affect cognitive function.
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Disruption of early embryonic development in mice by polymethylmethacrylate nanoplastics in an oxidative stress mechanism
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Researchers found that nanoplastics made from polymethylmethacrylate (acrylic glass material) severely disrupted early embryo development in mice. The tiny particles entered embryo cells within 30 minutes and caused oxidative stress that reduced embryo quality and implantation rates by up to 70%. This study raises concerns that nanoplastics circulating in the body could threaten reproductive health and early pregnancy.
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