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Experimental Short-Term Polystyrene Microplastic Exposure Induces Organ-and Sex-Specific Antioxidant Responses in Mice
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Short-term oral exposure to 1 µm polystyrene microplastics over 14 days disrupted antioxidant enzyme activity in mice in sex- and organ-specific ways, with the lungs and liver showing the most pronounced oxidative imbalances. These findings indicate that even brief microplastic exposure can compromise oxidative defense systems in multiple organs, with differential vulnerability between sexes that has implications for human health risk assessment.
Microplastics (MPs) have the potential to penetrate cell membranes and have been detected in various organs. Their ability to induce damage to organisms draws increasing attention. This pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) on the antioxidant defence system of various organs following short-term exposure in an experimental animal model. Male and female SWISS albino mice were randomly divided into the Control and PS-MPs-exposed groups. The control group had ad libitum access to purified water, while the PS-MPs group received 1 μm PS-MPs suspended in purified water at a dose of 0.1 mg/day for 14 days. At the end of the treatment period, animals were euthanized, and the liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, and spleen were dissected. Then, the main antioxidant enzyme activities were measured spectrophotometrically. The results showed that 14-day exposure to PS-MPs led to sex- and organ-specific alterations in enzyme activities. Compared to controls, in male mice, a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathionee peroxidase activities and an increase in catalase and glutathionee-S-transferase (GST) were observed in lungs, elevated SOD and GST activities in the liver, whereas in female mice, SOD activity in the liver was increased. These findings suggest that even short-term exposure to PS-MPs can disrupt oxidative balance in the vital organs, with sex- and tissue-specific vulnerabilities, potentially contributing to the development of disorders.
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Researchers fed male mice polystyrene microplastics at varying doses for six weeks and examined the effects on their colon and liver. They found that the microplastics reduced antioxidant enzyme activity, damaged the intestinal barrier, disrupted mucus production, and caused tissue changes in both organs. The study provides further evidence that oral exposure to microplastics can cause oxidative stress and structural damage in the digestive system and liver.
Induction of Oxidative Stress After Oral Exposure to Polystyrene Microplastics in Mice
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Mice that swallowed tiny plastic particles (polystyrene microplastics) for four weeks showed signs of stress and inflammation in their blood and organs, including their liver, kidney, and spleen — but many of these effects started to fade after the exposure stopped. This suggests that even low-level, short-term exposure to the kind of microplastics found in our food and water could temporarily strain the body's cells, though more research is needed to understand what happens with longer-term exposure in humans.
Nanoplastics-induced oxidative stress, antioxidant defense, and physiological response in exposed Wistar albino rats
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Researchers orally exposed Wistar rats to polystyrene nanoplastics at multiple doses for five weeks and observed dose-dependent increases in oxidative stress. The study found significant alterations in liver and kidney function markers, disrupted energy metabolism, and changes in antioxidant enzyme activity, suggesting that nanoplastic exposure may affect multiple organ systems in mammals.
Adverse effects of pristine and aged polystyrene microplastics in mice and their Nrf2-mediated defense mechanisms with tissue specificity
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Researchers exposed mice to pristine and UV-aged polystyrene microplastics via intratracheal instillation and found structural damage to the gut, liver, spleen, and testis. Aged microplastics caused greater functional damage than pristine particles, including increased liver enzymes and cholesterol, reduced antioxidant capacity, and tissue-specific activation of the Nrf2 defense pathway.
Size-Dependent PulmonaryToxicity and Whole-Body Distributionof Inhaled Micro/Nanoplastic Particles in Male Mice from Chronic Exposure
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Researchers used a whole-body inhalation exposure system to chronically expose male mice to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics at environmental concentrations and tracked particle distribution and lung toxicity. Nanoplastics (80 nm) showed greater tissue transport than microplastics (1 µm), with highest accumulation in lungs followed by blood and spleen, and both sizes disrupted oxidative balance and antioxidant defenses.
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