Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

The effects of exposure to microplastics on grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) at the physiological, biochemical, and transcriptomic levels

Researchers exposed grass carp to microplastics at two concentrations for 21 days and observed liver damage, inhibited growth, and increased oxidative stress. Transcriptome analysis revealed over 1,500 differentially expressed genes related to immune response, metabolism, and cellular stress pathways. The study suggests that microplastic exposure can trigger broad physiological and molecular disruptions in freshwater fish.

2021 Chemosphere 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Genes of filter-feeding species as a potential toolkit for monitoring microplastic impacts

Researchers developed a genetic toolkit using candidate genes from filter-feeding marine species to monitor the biological impacts of microplastic exposure in natural environments. They identified six genes across nine species that show measurable expression changes when organisms encounter microplastics. The study offers a practical molecular approach for tracking how microplastic pollution is actually affecting wild marine populations.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of polyethylene microplastics on transcriptional changes, biochemical response, and oxidative stress in common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Researchers exposed common carp to varying concentrations of polyethylene microplastics and assessed biochemical, oxidative, and gene expression changes. The study found that microplastic exposure caused significant oxidative stress, altered liver enzyme activity, and modified the expression of stress-related genes in a dose-dependent manner.

2022 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 72 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Polystyrene Microplastic Exposure on Liver Cell Damage, Oxidative Stress, and Gene Expression in Juvenile Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus)

Researchers exposed young crucian carp to polystyrene microplastics at different concentrations and found dose-dependent liver damage, with higher concentrations causing more severe tissue injury and weaker antioxidant defenses. The microplastics disrupted genes involved in detoxification and stress response in liver cells. Since crucian carp is a commonly consumed freshwater fish, these findings raise questions about whether microplastic-contaminated fish could affect the health of people who eat them.

2025 Toxics 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating Polystyrene Nano-Plastic Effects on Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) Focusing on mRNA Expression: Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Lipid Metabolism Dynamics

Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics affect the liver of largemouth bass, focusing on endoplasmic reticulum stress and fat metabolism. They found that nanoplastic exposure disrupted normal lipid processing and triggered stress responses in liver cells, altering the expression of genes involved in fat storage and energy regulation. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution in freshwater environments may impair metabolic health in fish.

2024 Fishes 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastic-contaminated liver through gene expression profiling of four commercial fish species in the Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria

Researchers analyzed the livers of four commercial fish species from the Lagos Lagoon in Nigeria and found microplastic contamination in all of them. Gene expression analysis revealed that the microplastic accumulation triggered changes in genes related to stress response and immune function. The study raises concerns about potential health risks for people who regularly consume fish from polluted urban waterways.

2024 Scientific African 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanospheres-induced hepatotoxicity in swamp eel (Monopterus albus): From biochemical, pathological and transcriptomic perspectives

Researchers exposed swamp eels to polystyrene nanoplastics for 28 days and found significant liver damage including oxidative stress, tissue abnormalities, and disrupted gene expression related to immune response and metabolism. Higher concentrations caused more severe liver injury, with changes detectable at both the biochemical and genetic levels. This study adds evidence that nanoplastic exposure can harm liver function in freshwater species important to aquaculture and local food supplies.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Molecular responses to pollution stress in glass eels (Anguilla anguilla): Gene expression changes associated with varying contamination levels and temperature across estuaries

Researchers measured gene expression in European eel glass eels entering estuaries with varying levels of microplastic and heavy metal contamination, finding that pollution and temperature shifts alter stress-response and metabolic gene expression in ways that may impair survival.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Identification of reliable reference genes for gene expression studies in mouse models under microplastics stress

Researchers sought to identify reliable reference genes for gene expression studies in mouse models exposed to polypropylene microplastics. The study found that while kidney tissues showed no obvious histological damage from microplastic exposure, careful selection and validation of reference genes is essential for accurate RT-qPCR analysis of gene expression changes under microplastic stress conditions.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Emerging microplastic and nanoplastic threats: Decoding winter survival mechanisms in hybrid groupers through hepatic metabolic disruption

Researchers explored how microplastics and nanoplastics of varying sizes affect hepatic lipid metabolism in hybrid grouper fish during winter overwintering periods. The study found that polystyrene particles disrupted lipid metabolism, caused oxidative stress, and altered gene expression in liver tissue, suggesting these pollutants may compromise fish survival during metabolically demanding cold seasons.

2025 Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Lipid Metabolism and Oxidative Stress Altered in Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus) Following Exposure to Microplastics Under Laboratory and Field Conditions

Researchers used high-throughput sequencing to assess the impact of microplastics on crucian carp under both field and laboratory conditions. After four weeks of in-situ exposure, intestinal microplastic levels slightly increased, and transcriptome analysis revealed over 3,000 differentially expressed genes in the liver, with notable enrichment in pathways related to lipid metabolism and oxidative stress.

2026 Water
Article Tier 2

Effect of Polystyrene Microplastic Exposure on Individual, Tissue, and Gene Expression in Juvenile Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus)

Juvenile crucian carp were exposed to polystyrene microplastics at different concentrations, and researchers found that the particles accumulated mainly in the intestines and gills. The study suggests that microplastic exposure caused tissue damage to multiple organs and altered gene expression, with higher concentrations generally leading to more severe effects.

2024 Fishes 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Hepatic multi-level responses to polyethylene microplastics in Lateolabrax maculatus: Insights from transcriptomics, antioxidant enzyme activity, and histopathology

Researchers exposed spotted sea bass to diets containing polyethylene microplastics for 45 days and found multiple levels of liver damage, including altered gene expression, reduced antioxidant enzyme activity, and visible tissue changes. A subsequent depuration period showed partial but incomplete recovery. The study suggests that chronic microplastic exposure through contaminated feed may pose significant risks to liver health in commercially farmed fish species.

2026 Aquaculture Reports
Article Tier 2

Chironomus riparius molecular response to polystyrene primary microplastics

Researchers examined the molecular response of the aquatic midge larva Chironomus riparius to polystyrene primary microplastics, investigating how these emerging contaminants affect gene expression in this standard toxicology test organism.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Enrichment of polystyrene microplastics induces histological damage, oxidative stress, Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway-related gene expression in loach juveniles (Paramisgurnus dabryanus)

Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics accumulate in loach juveniles raised in ponds lined with plastic film, finding dose-dependent enrichment in the fish. The study found that microplastic exposure caused liver tissue damage, disrupted antioxidant enzyme activity, and altered the expression of genes involved in oxidative stress defense pathways.

2022 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Revealing the hidden threats: Genotoxic effects of microplastics on freshwater fish

Researchers exposed a common freshwater fish to microplastics and found evidence of DNA damage in blood cells, along with changes in liver function and oxidative stress markers. The study took a comprehensive approach, measuring effects from the molecular level up to whole-organism responses. These genotoxic effects (damage to genetic material) in fish raise questions about whether chronic microplastic exposure could pose similar risks to other organisms, including humans.

2024 Aquatic Toxicology 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Enzymatic Stress Responses of Coreius guichenoti to Microplastics with Different Particle Sizes

A critically endangered Chinese river fish, Coreius guichenoti, showed significant biochemical stress responses — including elevated oxidative damage markers — after short-term exposure to polyethylene microplastic fragments. The two particle sizes tested (25 µm and 48 µm) caused stress in different tissues: smaller particles hit the liver and intestine harder, while larger ones affected skin, gills, and muscle. Importantly, stress levels did not return to normal within the observation window after exposure ended, suggesting microplastics could have lasting physiological impacts on this already-vulnerable species.

2023 Toxics 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecotoxicological effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on common carp: Insights into blood parameters, DNA damage, and gene expression

Exposing common carp to polystyrene nanoplastics caused significant DNA damage in blood and brain cells, along with changes in genes related to immune function and stress response. Higher concentrations led to more severe effects, and the nanoplastics also disrupted liver antioxidant defenses. Since carp are widely consumed fish, these findings raise questions about the safety of fish from nanoplastic-contaminated waters for human consumption.

2024 Journal of Applied Toxicology 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to polystyrene microplastics induced gene modulated biological responses in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics and analyzed changes in gene expression related to immune response, oxidative stress, and endocrine function. They found that microplastic exposure modulated genes involved in inflammation and detoxification pathways, indicating biological stress at the molecular level. The study provides evidence that microplastics can trigger gene-level disruptions in fish even before visible physical symptoms appear.

2020 Chemosphere 167 citations
Article Tier 2

Acute toxic effects of polyethylene microplastic on adult zebrafish

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polyethylene microplastics of various sizes to identify physical effects, behavioral changes, and gene expression impacts. They found that microplastic ingestion varied by particle size and that exposure altered expression of detoxification and reproduction-related genes. The study suggests that microplastic pollution at environmentally relevant concentrations could affect both the health and reproductive capacity of fish.

2019 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 290 citations
Article Tier 2

Sub-chronic nanoplastic toxicity in Etroplus suratensis (Pisces, Cichilidae): Insights into tissue accumulation, stress and metabolic disruption

Researchers exposed pearl spot fish to polystyrene nanoplastics at different concentrations for 14 days and found that the particles accumulated in multiple organs with concentration-dependent distribution patterns. The nanoplastics caused elevated glucose and cholesterol levels, suppressed antioxidant defenses, and increased markers of oxidative damage and stress. Gene expression changes in stress response and growth-related genes suggest that nanoplastic exposure may impair both immune function and normal development in fish.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Transcriptome and Gene Family Analyses Reveal the Physiological and Immune Regulatory Mechanisms of Channa maculata Larvae in Response to Nanoplastic-Induced Oxidative Stress

Researchers exposed larvae of blotched snakehead fish to polystyrene nanoplastics at concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 20 mg/L and observed concentration-dependent damage to the liver and intestines. The nanoplastics triggered oxidative stress responses and affected genes involved in immune regulation and detoxification. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution during early fish development could compromise both organ function and immune defenses.

2026 Antioxidants
Article Tier 2

A dosage-effect assessment of acute toxicology tests of microplastic exposure in filter-feeding fish

Researchers assessed the dose-dependent effects of polystyrene microplastics on silver carp, a filter-feeding fish, during a 48-hour exposure and recovery period. Low concentrations induced oxidative stress and gene upregulation in the intestine, with the fish able to recover after exposure ended. However, high concentrations caused significant gill and intestinal damage that persisted even after the microplastics were removed.

2021 Fish & Shellfish Immunology 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity of environmental and polystyrene plastic particles on the bivalve Corbicula fluminea: focus on the molecular responses

Researchers exposed freshwater bivalves to environmental microplastics and nanoplastics collected from a river, as well as to laboratory polystyrene nanoparticles, and measured molecular-level responses. Gene expression analysis revealed that plastic particle exposure activated stress response and immune defense pathways in gill and visceral tissues. The study indicates that even environmentally relevant concentrations of plastic particles can trigger measurable biological stress in filter-feeding organisms.

2024 Ecotoxicology 2 citations