Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Quercetin Prevents Bisphenol S Induced Behavioral Changes and Oxidative Stress iZebrafish by Modulating Brain Antioxidant Defense Mechanism

Researchers found that quercetin supplementation in zebrafish exposed to bisphenol S reduced oxidative stress markers and normalized abnormal behavioral responses in the brain, suggesting the natural antioxidant may counteract some neurotoxic effects of this common plastic additive.

2022 Biosciences Biotechnology Research Asia 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Natural-based solutions to mitigate dietary microplastics side effects in fish

Zebrafish reared for 6 months on diets containing microencapsulated astaxanthin and microplastics showed reduced oxidative stress and lower MP accumulation in liver compared to controls, suggesting antioxidant supplementation can mitigate the toxicological effects of dietary microplastic exposure.

2024 Chemosphere 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicological Evaluation of Microplastic Extracts in Zebrafish Behavior by Light–Dark and Startle Response Assays

Researchers evaluated the toxicological effects of chemical extracts leached from microplastics on zebrafish behavior using light-dark preference and startle response tests. The study found that microplastic leachates altered fish behavioral patterns, indicating that chemicals released from degraded plastics can have measurable neurobehavioral effects on aquatic organisms.

2026 UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
Article Tier 2

Effects of chronic exposure of naturally weathered microplastics on oxidative stress level, behaviour, and mitochondrial function of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to naturally weathered microplastics for 21 days and assessed behavioral changes, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial function. The study found that weathered microplastics induced anxiety-like behavior, elevated oxidative stress markers, and disrupted mitochondrial function, suggesting that real-world weathered microplastics may pose different biological risks than pristine laboratory particles.

2022 Chemosphere 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Eco-toxicity assessment of polypropylene microplastics in juvenile zebrafish (Danio rerio)

This study exposed young zebrafish to polypropylene microplastics for 28 days and found that the particles built up in their digestive tracts, causing oxidative stress, liver damage, and blood cell death. The damage increased with higher microplastic concentrations, and brain function was also affected through changes in a key neurotransmitter enzyme. These findings suggest that even common plastics like polypropylene can cause significant organ damage when ingested over time.

2024 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Does Microplastic Ingestion Affect Cognition and Brain Gene Expression in Zebrafish, Danio rerio ?

The first extended study of microplastic ingestion and cognition in zebrafish found no significant impairment in visual or spatial learning tasks, suggesting that dietary microplastic exposure at tested doses does not obviously disrupt cognitive function in this teleost model.

2025 Ethology
Article Tier 2

Danio rerio as a Model Animal for Assessing Microplastic Toxicity

This review examines the use of zebrafish as a model organism for assessing microplastic toxicity, summarizing experimental findings across polymer types and sizes showing that microplastic exposure induces epithelial damage, lipid metabolism disruption, reproductive impairment, and neurobehavioral alterations, and discussing the strengths and limitations of Danio rerio for microplastic hazard assessment.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Polyethylene microplastic exposure and concurrent effect with Aeromonas hydrophila infection on zebrafish

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastic exposure in zebrafish caused oxidative stress, altered antioxidant enzyme activity, and induced intestinal damage, with concurrent Aeromonas hydrophila infection amplifying these toxic effects and increasing mortality rates.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Research progress of model animal zebrafish in toxicity evaluation of microplastics

This review examines the use of zebrafish as a model organism for evaluating the toxicity of microplastics, synthesizing research on how microplastic exposure affects development, reproduction, and physiological function in this well-established vertebrate model. The authors highlight zebrafish as a particularly valuable system for mechanistic toxicology studies given its genetic tractability and the breadth of endpoints assessable across life stages.

2022 SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Intrinsic interaction inferred oxidative stress and apoptosis by Biosurfactant-microplastic hybrid reduces coordinated in vivo biotoxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers developed a biosurfactant-microplastic hybrid and tested whether coating microplastics with biosurfactant could reduce their toxicity in zebrafish. They found that the biosurfactant coating reduced oxidative stress and cell death caused by the microplastics, lowering their overall biological harm. The study suggests that biosurfactants could potentially serve as a mitigation strategy for reducing microplastic toxicity in aquatic environments.

2025 Materials Today Bio 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects on immunity of exposure to microplastics in adult zebrafish

Adult zebrafish exposed to microplastics showed changes in liver gene expression, gut and gill tissue damage, and altered swimming behavior, indicating that microplastic exposure triggers multiple biological stress responses. The study highlights the relevance of zebrafish as a model for assessing microplastic toxicity.

2019 Use Siena air (University of Siena)
Article Tier 2

Effects of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Neurodevelopment and Neurodegeneration in Zebrafish

This review covers how micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) exposure affects neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration in zebrafish, summarising evidence on impaired neurodevelopment, behavioural changes, and markers of neurodegeneration from studies using various polymer types and exposure routes. It frames zebrafish as a key model for understanding MNP neurotoxicity.

2025
Article Tier 2

Genotoxic and Oxidative Damage of Environmental Pollutant Microplastics on Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics at different concentrations for up to 21 days to measure oxidative stress and DNA damage. The study found that both types of microplastics disrupted the antioxidant system and caused measurable DNA damage, with effects depending on dosage and exposure time. These results suggest that microplastics in waterways could pose genetic and cellular risks to aquatic life.

2025 Journal of Applied Toxicology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Multilevel Toxicity Evaluations of Polyethylene Microplastics in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers evaluated the toxicity of polyethylene microplastic spheres in adult, juvenile, and embryo zebrafish at multiple biological levels. The study found no genotoxicity or significant toxic effects after acute exposure, likely because the particles were not internalized, though changes in acetylcholinesterase and glutathione-S-transferase enzyme activities suggested possible effects on gut microbiome function.

2023 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to microplastics decreases swimming competence in larval zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos and larvae to polystyrene microplastics and found that the particles adhered to egg surfaces before being ingested into the stomach and intestines after hatching. At higher concentrations, exposed larvae showed significantly reduced swimming distance and speed, along with upregulated genes related to inflammation and oxidative stress. The study suggests that microplastic exposure can impair swimming ability in larval fish, which could have broader ecological consequences for population fitness.

2019 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 201 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicological Assessment of Microplastics in Zebrafish: Biochemical Responses and Histopathological Changes

Zebrafish were exposed to polyethylene microplastics (50 and 100 µm) at concentrations from 0.1 to 500 µg/L for up to 24 days, with bioaccumulation found to be dose-dependent and concentrated in the liver and gut. While survival was high (>95%), histopathological damage in liver and intestinal tissue increased significantly with dose.

2025 Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Advantages of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) model in solving contemporary problems of neurotoxicity, teratotoxicity and genotoxicity of xenobiotics

This paper is not about microplastics per se; it is a Polish-language review of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) model in toxicology, covering its use for assessing neurotoxicity, teratotoxicity, and genotoxicity of xenobiotics including nanoparticles and microplastics, with discussion of the micronucleus and comet assays used to detect genetic damage.

2023 Farmacja Polska 1 citations
Article Tier 2

The Potential Toxic Effects of Ceftriaxone and Polypropylene Microplastics on Danio Rerio (Hamilton, 1822) Behaviour

Researchers exposed zebrafish (Danio rerio) to the antibiotic ceftriaxone and polypropylene microplastics individually and in combination and found that both pollutants alone and together altered exploratory and social behaviors, with combined exposure potentially exacerbating behavioral abnormalities.

2025 Transylvanian Review of Systematical and Ecological Research
Article Tier 2

Zebrafish as Model Organism in Aquatic Ecotoxicology: Current Trends and Future Perspectives

This review assessed zebrafish as model organisms for aquatic ecotoxicology, summarizing current trends and future directions in using Danio rerio to study the effects of environmental pollutants including microplastics. The authors highlight the zebrafish model's utility for integrating molecular, cellular, and whole-organism responses.

2023 IntechOpen eBooks 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Lead to Hyperactive Swimming Behaviour in Adult Zebrafish

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics across a wide concentration range and found that microplastics accumulated primarily in the gastrointestinal tract and gills. The study revealed that exposed fish exhibited hyperactive swimming behavior, suggesting that microplastic ingestion can affect locomotor activity even without obvious physical damage to internal organs.

2020 Aquatic Toxicology 178 citations
Article Tier 2

Behavioural impact of microplastics on zebrafish development

Researchers assessed the developmental effects of environmentally relevant, household-derived microplastic fragments on zebrafish, rather than the pristine polymer spheres typically used in lab studies. While exposure did not cause embryonic death or gross malformations, the study found significant sublethal effects including reduced touch-evoked escape responses in larvae, suggesting behavioral impacts from realistic microplastic exposure.

2026
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of antioxidant response and Na+-K+-ATPase activity in zebrafish exposed to polyethylene microplastics: Shedding light on a physiological adaptation

Researchers evaluated the antioxidant response and ion transport enzyme activity in zebrafish exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of polyethylene microplastics, finding evidence of physiological adaptation mechanisms in response to microplastic exposure.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicological Response of Zebrafish Exposed to Cocktails of Polymeric Materials and Valproic Acid

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to microplastics made of polyethylene and polypropylene, both alone and in combination with the pharmaceutical drug valproic acid. They observed changes in social behavior, swimming performance, and aggression levels, with certain mixtures producing effects worse than either substance alone. The study suggests that microplastics and pharmaceutical pollutants together in waterways could pose compounding behavioral risks to fish.

2024 Sustainability 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxic effects of naturally-aged microplastics on zebrafish juveniles: A more realistic approach to plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems

Researchers exposed juvenile zebrafish to naturally aged polystyrene microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations for five days. They found that the microplastics disrupted the fish's antioxidant defenses, indicating oxidative stress, and caused measurable cellular and neurological impacts. The study suggests that even short-term exposure to realistic levels of weathered microplastics can affect the health of freshwater organisms.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 162 citations