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Synergistic reproductive toxicity of microcystin-LR and polystyrene micro/nano-plastics in male zebrafish.
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Male zebrafish exposed to both microcystin-LR and polystyrene micro/nano-plastics showed synergistic reproductive toxicity, with co-exposure more severely impairing sperm quality, testicular structure, and reproductive hormones than either contaminant alone. The study underscored the ecological risk posed by the co-occurrence of cyanotoxins and microplastics in aquatic environments.
Microcystins (MCs) and micro- or nano-plastics (MPs or NPs) coexist in aquatic environment. The combined toxic effects and underlying mechanisms of MCs and MPs or NPs in male reproductive toxicology remain poorly studied. To investigate potential male reproductive interference, male zebrafish were exposed to microcystin-LR (MCLR; 0, 5, 25 μg/L), polystyrene micro-plastics (PSMPs; 5 μm, 1 mg/L), polystyrene nano-plastics (PSNPs; 80 nm, 1 mg/L), and MCLR + PSMPs or PSNPs for 45 days. Co-exposure to MCLR and PSMPs or PSNPs enhanced the bioavailability of MCLR and potentially exerted synergistic effects. Exposure to PSMPs, PSNPs, or MCLR individually resulted in the disruption of testicular architecture and increased oxidative stress in vitro and in vivo, while co-exposure enhanced these toxic effects, especially with PSNPs. Our findings indicated that simultaneous exposure to PSMPs or PSNPs in conjunction with MCLR significantly exacerbates DNA damage compared to exposure to MCLR, PSMPs, or PSNPs alone. Consequently, this caused aberrant expression of cell cycle-related proteins in zebrafish testes and cell cycle arrest in GC-2 cells. Moreover, exposure to MCLR and PSNPs disrupted mitochondrial morphology and inhibited mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics, resulting in mitochondrial membrane potential loss, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content reduction in GC-2 cells. This research underscores the potential risks associated with MCLR and PSMPs or PSNPs on reproductive processes, as evidenced by the induction of DNA and mitochondrial damage in spermatogenic cells.
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Polystyrene microplastics enhance the microcystin-LR-induced gonadal damage and reproductive endocrine disruption in zebrafish
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Zebrafish exposed to polystyrene microplastics along with microcystin-LR (a common toxin from algae blooms) suffered worse reproductive damage than when exposed to either pollutant alone. The microplastics acted as carriers that increased the amount of toxin accumulating in the fish's reproductive organs. This study demonstrates that microplastics can worsen the effects of other water pollutants by helping toxic chemicals build up in the body.
Co-exposure to polystyrene microplastics and microcystin-LR aggravated male reproductive toxicity in mice
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Researchers found that exposing mice to a combination of polystyrene microplastics and microcystin-LR, a toxin produced by algae, caused more severe damage to male reproductive organs than either pollutant alone. The microplastics increased the amount of the toxin that accumulated in testicular tissue. The study suggests that the interaction between microplastics and other environmental contaminants may amplify reproductive health risks.
Polystyrene microplastics enhance microcystin-LR-induced cardiovascular toxicity and oxidative stress in zebrafish embryos
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Zebrafish embryos exposed to both microplastics and microcystin-LR (a toxin produced by algal blooms) developed significantly worse heart and blood vessel damage than those exposed to the toxin alone. The microplastics amplified oxidative stress and cell death, suggesting that in polluted waterways where both contaminants coexist, the combined health risks may be greater than either one individually.
Double trouble for spermatogenesis: Polystyrene nanoplastics aggravate microcystin-LR toxicity by hijacking mitochondrial function in zebrafish
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Researchers exposed male zebrafish to a toxic algae compound alone or combined with tiny plastic particles to study effects on sperm production. When both pollutants were present together, the plastic particles made the toxin's damage worse by interfering with how cells produce energy, which then disrupted the genetic instructions for making sperm. The study shows that two pollutants together can cause greater harm than either one alone.
The joint effect of parental exposure to microcystin-LR and polystyrene nanoplastics on the growth of zebrafish offspring
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Adult zebrafish co-exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics and microcystin-LR (MCLR) for 21 days transferred more MCLR to their offspring than MCLR alone, and the nanoplastic-enhanced MCLR parental load correlated with greater growth inhibition and developmental defects in F1 larvae.
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