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20 resultsShowing papers similar to Perinatal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics alters socioemotional behaviors via the microbiota–gut–brain axis in adult offspring mice
ClearIntergenerational neurotoxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics in offspring mice is mediated by dysfunctional microbe-gut-brain axis
Researchers found that mother mice exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics during pregnancy and nursing passed neurological harm to their offspring, with the babies showing brain inflammation, disrupted dopamine and serotonin signaling, and gut microbiome imbalances — suggesting that nanoplastic exposure before birth can damage the developing brain through the gut-brain connection.
Neonatal Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics Impairs Microglia-Mediated Synaptic Pruning and Causes Social Behavioral Defects in Adulthood
Newborn mice exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics showed disrupted brain development that led to social behavior problems lasting into adulthood. The nanoplastics impaired microglia -- the brain's immune cells -- preventing them from properly pruning unnecessary connections between nerve cells during a critical window of early development. This raises concerns about nanoplastic exposure from baby bottles and other infant products.
Polystyrene micro- and nanoparticles exposure induced anxiety-like behaviors, gut microbiota dysbiosis and metabolism disorder in adult mice
A mouse study found that exposure to both micro- and nano-sized polystyrene particles caused anxiety-like behavior, disrupted gut bacteria, and altered metabolism. The nanoplastics caused more severe effects than the larger microplastics, and longer exposure periods made the damage worse. These findings support the idea that plastic particles can affect brain function and behavior through the gut-brain connection.
Adolescent exposure to micro/nanoplastics induces cognitive impairments in mice with neuronal morphological damage and multi-omic alterations
Adolescent mice exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics showed significant memory and learning problems, along with neuron loss and reduced new brain cell growth in the hippocampus. The nanoplastics also disrupted gut bacteria and brain chemistry, with strong links found between gut microbiome changes and brain metabolic disruption, suggesting that plastic exposure during youth may impair brain development through the gut-brain connection.
Maternal exposure to polystyrene microplastics impairs social behavior in mouse offspring with a potential neurotoxicity
When pregnant mice were exposed to polystyrene microplastics, their offspring showed impaired social behavior even though the plastics did not reach the brain directly. The microplastics accumulated in the mothers' digestive organs and caused changes in brain cell growth and survival in isolated neurons. This study suggests that microplastic exposure during pregnancy could affect brain development and social behavior in offspring through indirect mechanisms.
Exposure to polystyrene microplastics reduces sociality and brain oxytocin levels through the gut-brain axis in mice
Adolescent mice exposed to polystyrene microplastics for 10 weeks showed reduced social behavior and lower levels of oxytocin -- a hormone important for social bonding -- in a key brain region. The microplastics damaged the gut lining and altered gut bacteria, and when researchers blocked the nerve connection between the gut and brain, the social behavior problems improved. This provides strong evidence that microplastics can affect brain function and social behavior through the gut-brain axis.
Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics impacts developmental milestones and brain structure in mouse offspring
Researchers exposed pregnant mice to polystyrene nanoplastics and studied the effects on their offspring's brain development. The study found that maternal nanoplastic exposure affected developmental milestones and brain structure in the young mice. The findings suggest that nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy may pose risks to fetal brain development, though more research is needed to understand the implications for humans.
Teratological, neurochemical and histomorphic changes in the limbic areas of F1 mice progeny due to co-parental polystyrene nanoplastic exposure
Researchers exposed parent mice to polystyrene nanoplastics before and during pregnancy and found that offspring exhibited skeletal and visceral malformations, impaired neonatal reflexes, learning deficits, and structural brain changes — including reduced hippocampal neurons — demonstrating transgenerational neurodevelopmental harm from nanoplastic exposure.
Effect of nanoplastic intake on the dopamine system during the development of male mice
Male mice exposed to nanoplastics during specific developmental windows, particularly late pregnancy and adulthood, showed disrupted dopamine signaling in the brain and reduced social behavior. The nanoplastics altered brain activity in regions controlling reward, decision-making, and social interaction. This study suggests that nanoplastic exposure during critical periods of brain development could affect cognitive and social function, raising concerns about the impact on human brain health.
Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics causes brain abnormalities in progeny
When pregnant mice were exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics, their offspring showed abnormal brain development including changes in neural stem cell function, altered brain structure, and cognitive problems. The effects were gender-specific, with some deficits appearing more strongly in one sex. This study raises concerns that nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy could increase the risk of neurodevelopmental problems in children.
Exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics induces an anxiolytic-like effect, changes in antipredator defensive response, and DNA damage in Swiss mice
Researchers exposed male Swiss mice to polystyrene nanoplastics at two doses over 20 days and assessed behavioral, neurological, and genetic effects. The study found that nanoplastic exposure induced anxiolytic-like behavior, altered antipredator defensive responses, and caused DNA damage in erythrocytes, suggesting that nanoplastics can affect mammalian brain function and genomic integrity.
Long-term exposure to polystyrene microplastics reduces macrophages and affects the microbiota–gut–brain axis in mice
Mice that consumed polystyrene microplastics over an extended period showed reduced immune cells called macrophages in their colons and changes in gut bacteria that were linked to altered brain chemistry. This study provides evidence for a gut-brain connection where microplastics may affect brain function indirectly by first disrupting gut health and the immune system.
Effects of nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy and lactation on neurodevelopment of rat offspring
When pregnant and nursing rats were exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics, their offspring showed thinner brain cortexes, disrupted neurotransmitter levels, damaged connections between brain cells, and problems with anxiety and spatial memory. This study suggests that maternal exposure to nanoplastics during pregnancy and breastfeeding could affect brain development in offspring.
Early-life exposure to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics disrupts metabolic homeostasis and gut microbiota in juvenile mice with a size-dependent manner
Pregnant mice given polystyrene micro or nanoplastics in their drinking water passed the particles to their pups through the placenta and breast milk, with smaller nanoplastics accumulating more heavily in organs. The nanoplastics (0.05 micrometers) caused more severe gut damage, liver dysfunction, and metabolic disruption in the young mice than the larger microplastics (5 micrometers). This study demonstrates that early-life exposure to nanoplastics, even before birth, can disrupt development in a size-dependent way, with the smallest particles posing the greatest risk.
Exposure to different surface-modified polystyrene nanoparticles caused anxiety, depression, and social deficit in mice via damaging mitochondria in neurons
Mice exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics with different surface coatings all developed anxiety, depression, and impaired social behavior after the particles accumulated in their brains. The nanoplastics crossed the blood-brain barrier by disrupting the connections between blood vessel cells, then damaged the mitochondria (energy producers) inside brain neurons, reducing their energy output and likely driving the behavioral changes.
Manifestation of polystyrene microplastic accumulation in brain with emphasis on morphometric and histopathological changes in limbic areas of Swiss albino mice
Mice exposed to polystyrene microplastics showed cognitive impairment, anxiety-like behavior, and measurable brain damage, particularly in the limbic system regions responsible for memory and emotion. The microplastics accumulated in the brain and caused neuron loss in the hippocampus, along with structural damage to the cortex, amygdala, and hypothalamus. This study provides direct evidence that microplastics can reach the brain and cause physical changes that affect behavior and mental function.
Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics causes brain abnormalities in progeny
Researchers found that maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics caused brain abnormalities in offspring, demonstrating that nanoplastics can cross maternal barriers and affect neurological development in progeny with implications for developmental toxicology.
Early-life exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics at ambient doses induces neurotoxicity via mTOR-mediated autophagy-lysosomal dysfunction and proteostasis imbalance
Researchers exposed young mice to environmentally relevant doses of polystyrene nanoplastics and found that the particles penetrated their brains and caused behavioral and emotional disorders. The study identified a specific molecular mechanism in which nanoplastics disrupted the mTOR signaling pathway, leading to lysosomal dysfunction and a buildup of misfolded proteins that ultimately caused neurotoxicity. Treatments targeting these pathways were able to alleviate the harmful effects, suggesting potential avenues for intervention.
Exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics causes anxiety and depressive-like behavior and down-regulates EAAT2 expression in mice
Mice exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics for two months developed anxiety and depression-like behaviors linked to reduced brain cell communication in the prefrontal cortex, caused by overactive support cells blocking a key brain chemical recycling system. When researchers activated the blocked recycling protein (EAAT2), the anxiety and depression symptoms were reversed, suggesting a potential treatment approach for nanoplastic-related mental health effects.
Oral exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics induces anxiety-like behavior and cognitive deficit accompanied with alteration of neuroimmune markers in rats
Researchers found that oral exposure to 50 nm polystyrene nanoplastics in rats induced anxiety-like behavior and cognitive deficits after four weeks of dosing. The study observed alterations in neuroimmune markers in the hippocampus, suggesting that nanoplastic ingestion may affect brain function through neuroinflammatory pathways.