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Papers
878 resultsZebrafish Feed Intake: A Systematic Review for Standardizing Feeding Management in Laboratory Conditions
This systematic review of 73 studies found great variability in zebrafish feeding protocols used in laboratory research, with no standardized nutritional requirements established for this important model organism. The lack of feeding standardization is a concern because zebrafish are widely used in toxicology studies, including microplastic exposure research, and inconsistent nutrition could confound experimental results.
The effects of heavy metal exposure on brain and gut microbiota: A systematic review of animal studies
This systematic review of 16 animal studies found evidence that heavy metal exposure disrupts gut microbiota composition, which may in turn affect brain function through the gut-brain axis. Lead was the most studied metal, and the findings suggest that environmental contaminant-induced gut dysbiosis could mediate neurotoxic effects, a mechanism that may also apply to microplastic exposure.
Polylactic acid microplastics before and after aging induced neurotoxicity in zebrafish by disrupting the microbiota-gut-brain axis
Researchers exposed zebrafish to microplastics made from PLA, a common biodegradable plastic, and found that both new and aged PLA particles caused brain and nerve damage, including sluggish behavior, memory problems, and increased aggression. Aged PLA particles were even more toxic, and the damage appeared to work through disruption of the gut-brain connection, raising concerns about the safety of biodegradable plastics as they break down in water.
A systematic review of the effects of nanoplastics on fish
This systematic review examines how nanoplastics (extremely small plastic particles) affect fish, including their ability to cross biological barriers and accumulate in tissues. The findings are relevant to human health because fish are a major dietary protein source, and understanding how plastics move through aquatic food chains helps us assess our own exposure risks.
Plastic food? Energy compensation of zebrafish (Danio rerio) after long-term exposure to polylactic acid biomicroplastics
Zebrafish exposed to biodegradable PLA (polylactic acid) microplastics for 90 days accumulated more plastic in their guts than fish exposed to conventional PET plastic, and suffered more intestinal damage. Although the fish partially compensated by using the PLA breakdown products for energy, the study shows that bio-based plastics still carry meaningful ecological risks for aquatic organisms that can enter our food chain.
Meta-analysis of the hazards of microplastics in freshwaters using species sensitivity distributions
This meta-analysis built species sensitivity distributions for microplastics in freshwater and found that predicted no-effect concentrations for pristine microplastics were lower than for weathered ones, suggesting lab studies with new plastics may overestimate real-world hazards. The research highlights that most ecotoxicological studies use pristine microplastics at concentrations far exceeding environmental levels, complicating ecological risk assessment.
Microplastics induced apoptosis in macrophages by promoting ROS generation and altering metabolic profiles
This study found that polystyrene microplastics trigger cell death in macrophages, key immune cells that serve as the body's first line of defense against harmful substances. Smaller microplastics (0.5 micrometers) were more damaging than larger ones because they can enter the cells directly, where they generate harmful reactive oxygen species and disrupt normal cell metabolism.
Mechanisms Underlying the Size-Dependent Neurotoxicity of Polystyrene Nanoplastics in Zebrafish
Scientists discovered that smaller nanoplastics cause more severe brain and nerve damage in zebrafish than larger ones, and identified the molecular pathways behind this size-dependent toxicity. The smaller particles more easily crossed biological barriers and triggered greater oxidative stress and inflammation in the nervous system, which is important for understanding potential neurological risks of nanoplastic exposure.
Positively Charged Nanoplastics Destruct the Structure of the PCK1 Enzyme, Promote the Aerobic Gycolysis Pathway, and Induce Hepatic Tumor Risks
Positively charged nanoplastics promoted liver tumor growth in zebrafish and human cancer cells, while negatively charged nanoplastics did not. The positive charge disrupts a key enzyme (PCK1) involved in sugar metabolism, pushing cells toward the energy pathway preferred by cancer cells. This finding suggests that the surface chemistry of nanoplastics in the environment may influence their cancer-promoting potential.
Synergistic neurotoxicity of clothianidin and photoaged microplastics in zebrafish: Implications for neuroendocrine disruption
This study found that photoaged (sun-weathered) microplastics absorb more of the insecticide clothianidin than fresh plastics, and the combination caused greater nerve damage in zebrafish larvae than either pollutant alone. The results demonstrate how weathered microplastics in the environment can amplify the toxicity of other chemicals they encounter, creating compound exposure risks for aquatic life and potentially for humans through the food chain.
Polystyrene nanoplastics chronic exposure cause zebrafish visual neurobehavior toxicity through TGFβ-crystallin axis
Zebrafish chronically exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics showed significant vision problems, including structural damage to the retina and lens, with the largest particles (500 nm) causing the worst effects. The nanoplastics accumulated in retinal tissue and disrupted key signaling pathways involved in vision, suggesting that long-term nanoplastic exposure could pose risks to eye health.
Hepatotoxic effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of polystyrene microplastics on senescent Zebrafish (Danio rerio): Patterns of stress response and metabolomic alterations
Researchers exposed aging zebrafish to environmentally realistic levels of polystyrene microplastics and found significant liver damage, including disrupted stress responses and altered metabolism. This study is notable because it focused on older organisms, suggesting that elderly populations may be more vulnerable to the toxic effects of microplastic exposure.
Exposure Pathways, Systemic Distribution, and Health Implications of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Humans
This review summarizes how micro- and nanoplastics enter the human body through food, air, and skin, then distribute to organs throughout the body. Research in animal and cell models shows these particles can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, brain toxicity, reproductive problems, and potentially cancer, though standardized methods for assessing real-world human health risks are still needed.
Combined exposure of polystyrene nanoplastics and silver nanoparticles exacerbating hepatotoxicity in zebrafish mediated by ferroptosis pathway through increased silver accumulation
When zebrafish were exposed to both polystyrene nanoplastics and silver nanoparticles together, the liver damage was significantly worse than from silver alone because the nanoplastics helped more silver accumulate in the body. The combined exposure triggered a specific type of cell death called ferroptosis in liver tissue, suggesting that nanoplastics can make other environmental pollutants more toxic.
Polystyrene nanoplastics cause developmental abnormalities, oxidative damage and immune toxicity in early zebrafish development
Zebrafish embryos exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics showed dose-dependent developmental problems including delayed hatching, reduced survival, smaller body size, and the nanoplastics accumulated in critical organs like the eyes, heart, liver, and brain. The particles triggered oxidative stress that damaged cells and activated inflammatory immune responses, demonstrating how nanoplastic contamination in water can cause widespread harm to developing organisms.
Fate of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics in zebrafish liver cells: Influence of protein corona on transport, oxidative stress, and glycolipid metabolism
Scientists studied how proteins in biological fluids coat nanoplastic particles (forming a "protein corona") and how this coating changes the way cells take up and process the plastics. The protein coating actually increased how many nanoplastics entered liver cells and made them harder to clear out, suggesting that once nanoplastics enter the bloodstream, the body's own proteins may make the contamination harder to eliminate.
Multi-omics association pattern between gut microbiota and host metabolism of a filter-feeding fish in situ exposed to microplastics
Scientists exposed filter-feeding fish to environmentally realistic levels of microplastics and found that the particles reshaped gut bacteria communities, which in turn altered the fish's liver metabolism through changes in amino acid processing. This gut-microbiome-to-organ connection matters because it shows microplastics may affect human health not just through direct toxicity but by disrupting the beneficial bacteria in our digestive systems.
Amphotericin B Encapsulation in Polymeric Nanoparticles: Toxicity Insights via Cells and Zebrafish Embryo Testing
This study tested a new nanoparticle delivery system for the antifungal drug amphotericin B using zebrafish embryos to assess safety. While not about microplastics, the research is relevant because it demonstrates how polymer-based nanoparticles interact with biological systems, providing insights that parallel concerns about nanoplastic exposure in living organisms.
Mixtures of polystyrene micro and nanoplastics affects fat and glucose metabolism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and zebrafish larvae
Exposure to a mixture of micro- and nanoplastics increased fat production and impaired the body's ability to use insulin and process sugar in both cell and zebrafish experiments. The plastic mixture triggered inflammation, boosted fat-storing genes, and suppressed insulin signaling pathways. These findings suggest that microplastic exposure could contribute to obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Vitamin E Mitigates Polystyrene-Nanoplastic-Induced Visual Dysfunction in Zebrafish Larvae
Researchers found that vitamin E, a common antioxidant, can protect against vision damage caused by polystyrene nanoplastics in zebrafish larvae. The nanoplastics caused eye defects and visual impairment by triggering harmful oxidative stress, but vitamin E treatment significantly reduced this damage, suggesting antioxidants might help counteract some harmful effects of nanoplastic exposure.
Size-dependent ecotoxicological impacts of tire wear particles on zebrafish physiology and gut microbiota: Implications for aquatic ecosystem health
Researchers found that tire wear particles, a major but often overlooked source of microplastic pollution, affect zebrafish health differently depending on particle size. Smaller particles caused more severe gut microbiome disruption, oxidative stress, and immune responses, suggesting that tire-derived microplastics in waterways may pose a greater health risk to aquatic life than previously recognized.
Polystyrene microplastics and cypermethrin exposure interfered the complexity of antibiotic resistance genes and induced metabolic dysfunction in the gut of adult zebrafish
Zebrafish exposed to a combination of polystyrene microplastics and the pesticide cypermethrin showed more severe gut damage than from either pollutant alone, including loss of beneficial gut bacteria, growth of harmful microbes, and increased antibiotic resistance genes. This suggests that microplastics and pesticides together may disrupt gut health more than expected, which is relevant since humans encounter both pollutants through food and water.
Synergistic endocrine disruption and cellular toxicity of polyethylene microplastics and bisphenol A in MLTC-1 cells and zebrafish
When zebrafish and testicular cells were exposed to polyethylene microplastics and the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) together, the combination caused significantly worse reproductive harm than either pollutant alone, including reduced cell survival and disrupted hormone-producing gene activity. This matters because people are commonly exposed to both microplastics and BPA through food packaging, and their combined effect on reproductive health may be greater than expected.
Nanoplastics as Gene and Epigenetic Modulators of Endocrine Functions: A Perspective
This review summarizes how nanoplastics act as endocrine disruptors, interfering with thyroid and sex hormones in animal studies and causing DNA and epigenetic changes that could be passed to future generations. With nanoplastics already detected in human breast milk and placenta, the research underscores the need for more studies on how chronic exposure may affect human hormone function and reproductive health.