Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Environmental microplastics accumulate in gonads in a sex-dependent manner and alter reproductive success in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Zebrafish exposed to environmentally sourced microplastics accumulated particles preferentially in the testes rather than ovaries, and males showed the highest gonadal microplastic loads along with PCB co-contaminant effects including inhibited apoptosis and hepatotoxicity.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances
Article Tier 2

Exposure to polystyrene microplastics impairs gonads of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics for 21 days and examined the effects on their reproductive organs. At higher concentrations, the microplastics caused elevated oxidative stress in the liver and gonads, and triggered cell death pathways in male testes along with thinning of testicular tissue. The study suggests that microplastic exposure can damage fish reproductive organs through oxidative stress and programmed cell death mechanisms.

2020 Chemosphere 230 citations
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

Environmental microplastics disrupt swimming activity in acute exposure in Danio rerio larvae and reduce growth and reproduction success in chronic exposure in D. rerio and Oryzias melastigma

Researchers exposed zebrafish and marine medaka to environmental microplastics collected from Caribbean beaches and found that acute exposure disrupted swimming behavior in larvae, while chronic dietary exposure reduced growth and reproduction by up to 70%. The study suggests that environmentally relevant microplastic concentrations can cause cross-generational effects, with offspring of exposed fish showing premature mortality.

2022 Environmental Pollution 72 citations
Article Tier 2

Intestinal Accumulation of Polyester Microfibers Modulates HPG Axis Regulation and Oocyte Maturation in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Scientists found that tiny plastic fibers from clothing (called microfibers) can build up in fish intestines and disrupt their hormone systems, affecting how their eggs develop. While this study was done in zebrafish, it's concerning because humans also consume these plastic fibers through seafood and drinking water. This research suggests that microplastic pollution may be interfering with reproductive health in ways we're just beginning to understand.

2026 Fishes
Article Tier 2

Developmental Polyethylene Microplastic Fiber Exposure Entails Subtle Reproductive Impacts in Juvenile Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes)

Japanese medaka fish exposed to environmentally relevant levels of polyethylene microplastic fibers throughout development showed subtle but measurable reproductive impacts including alterations in gonadal development. The findings suggest that chronic low-dose microplastic fiber exposure during early life may impair future reproductive capacity in fish.

2022 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Behavioral Studies of Zebrafish Reveal a New Perspective on the Reproductive Toxicity of Micro- and Nanoplastics

This review summarizes existing research on how micro- and nanoplastics affect the behavior and reproductive health of zebrafish, a common lab model for studying human biology. The findings suggest that tiny plastic particles can disrupt reproductive behavior and act as hormone-like chemicals, and that behavioral changes in fish may serve as early warning signs of reproductive harm that could be relevant to understanding human health risks.

2024 Toxics 34 citations
Clinical Trial Tier 1

Effect of Microplastic Exposures to The Male Gonad Histology of Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

This study found that microplastic exposure damaged the reproductive organs of male catfish, causing structural changes in gonad tissue. The findings raise concerns about microplastic effects on fish reproductive health, which could impact aquaculture productivity and suggests that these particles may pose broader reproductive risks to aquatic species in our food supply.

2023 Journal of Aquaculture and Fish Health 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Morphometric effects of various weathered and virgin/pure microplastics on sac fry zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed sac fry zebrafish (Danio rerio) to weathered and virgin microplastics of various polymer types and found significant morphometric developmental effects, with weathered plastics generally causing greater biological harm than virgin counterparts due to differences in surface chemistry and plasticizer content.

2021 AIMS environmental science 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics induced endocrine disruption, alteration in testicular tissue in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) pre-fed on Amphora coffeaeformis

Researchers found that microplastic exposure caused hormonal disruption, reduced sperm quality, and damaged testicular tissue in male tilapia fish, but pre-feeding the fish with a microalgae feed supplement partially protected against these reproductive harms. The study suggests that dietary interventions may help mitigate microplastic toxicity in fish farmed for human consumption.

2021 3 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

The gonadal health status of Cyprinidae fish species collected from the river impacted by anthropogenic activities

Not relevant to microplastics — this study assesses reproductive health in three freshwater fish species from a Turkish river contaminated by heavy metals from agricultural and industrial wastewater, with no mention of microplastics.

2023 Ege Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Limnic Ecosystems - Investigation of Biological Fate and Effects of Microplastic Particles and Associated Contaminants in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)-

This doctoral thesis investigated how microplastics and their associated chemical contaminants affect zebrafish (Danio rerio) in freshwater environments, including ingestion, tissue accumulation, and toxicological effects. The research demonstrates that microplastics can act as vectors for pollutants like pesticides and pharmaceuticals, compounding their harmful effects on aquatic organisms.

2020 heiDOK (Heidelberg University) 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Histopathological Examination of Zebrafish Organs Under the Exposure to Microplastics

This study conducted histopathological examination of zebrafish organs following microplastic exposure, assessing tissue-level damage in multiple organ systems. The work is part of a broader Kazakhstani research program studying the effects of anthropogenic pollutants on commercial fish species.

2024 Experimental biology
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

Ingestion and effects of virgin polyamide microplastics on Chironomus riparius adult larvae and adult zebrafish Danio rerio

Scientists fed polyamide microplastics to Chironomus riparius larvae and adult zebrafish, finding ingestion in both species, with larger particles retained in fish intestines and both species showing signs of inflammation and oxidative stress.

2020 Chemosphere 68 citations
Article Tier 2

Embryotoxicity of polystyrene microplastics in zebrafish Danio rerio

Researchers exposed zebrafish embryos to polystyrene microplastics during early development and observed serious physical deformities, particularly in the spine, tail, and eyes, despite no increase in mortality. The exposed larvae also showed elevated expression of genes involved in oxidative stress defense and cellular detoxification. The findings suggest that microplastics can disrupt critical developmental stages in freshwater fish even when they do not directly cause death.

2021 Environmental Research 136 citations
Article Tier 2

Chronic feeding exposure to virgin and spiked microplastics disrupts essential biological functions in teleost fish

Researchers fed zebrafish and marine medaka environmentally relevant concentrations of virgin and chemically spiked polyethylene and PVC microplastics over four months. While classical biomarkers showed no changes, significant decreases in growth and disruptions to reproduction, gut integrity, and liver function were observed. The findings suggest that chronic dietary exposure to microplastics can disrupt essential biological functions in fish even without triggering traditional toxicity markers.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 90 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

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

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

Polystyrene microplastics disrupt female reproductive health and fertility via sirt1 modulation in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

This study found that polystyrene microplastics disrupted female reproductive health in zebrafish by interfering with a key protein called SIRT1 that regulates hormone production. Exposed fish showed changes in egg development, hormone levels, and ovarian tissue structure. Since the hormonal pathways affected are similar in humans, these findings raise concerns about how microplastic exposure might contribute to fertility problems in women.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 85 citations
Article Tier 2

Role of Environmental Pollution in Altering Reproductive Cycles in Freshwater Fishes

Not relevant to microplastics — this review examines how industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, and pesticides in freshwater ecosystems disrupt reproductive cycles in fish, covering hormonal imbalances and population effects from endocrine-disrupting chemicals broadly.

2023 Journal for Research in Applied Sciences and Biotechnology
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