Long-Term Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics Impairs the Liver Health of Medaka
Nanoplastic (NP) has become a global environmental concern due to its potentially wide distribution and unknown impacts on organisms. Many laboratory studies have reported the short-term toxicity of NPs but their long-term effects are unclear. Here, the chronic hepatoxic effects of NPs (diameter 100...
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/17/2767 |
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| author | Yinfeng Zhou Li Zhao Haijing Xu Elvis Genbo Xu Mingyou Li Youji Wang |
| author_facet | Yinfeng Zhou Li Zhao Haijing Xu Elvis Genbo Xu Mingyou Li Youji Wang |
| author_sort | Yinfeng Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nanoplastic (NP) has become a global environmental concern due to its potentially wide distribution and unknown impacts on organisms. Many laboratory studies have reported the short-term toxicity of NPs but their long-term effects are unclear. Here, the chronic hepatoxic effects of NPs (diameter 100 nm; 0, 10, and 10<sup>4</sup> items/L) in medaka (<i>Oryzias latipes</i>) were evaluated after three-month exposure by investigating the alterations in enzymatic biomarkers (digestion, oxidative status, and immunity) and histopathology in the liver. The trypsin and chymotrypsin activities of digestive enzymes were induced at a low concentration of NPs (10 items/L) but inhibited at high concentration (10<sup>4</sup> items/L); only the amylase activity was significantly decreased in all NP-treated medaka. Oxidative stress was also induced by NP exposure, which was indicated by the responsive superoxide dismutase and catalase. Lysozyme was significantly reduced after exposure to a high concentration of NPs, while alkaline phosphatase was significantly induced at a low concentration. Exposure to NPs also caused liver damage (e.g., congestion and dilated sinusoids). Taken together, our findings show that chronic exposure to NPs at low particle concentrations can impair the liver health of medaka by affecting liver enzymatic functions and causing histological damage. This implies potentially long-term threats of NPs to aquatic organisms, which call for more long-term aquatic toxicological studies on various species using low environmental concentrations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:05:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1005af20c56a4ff38273cd04df538b1d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:05:07Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-1005af20c56a4ff38273cd04df538b1d2023-11-23T14:28:01ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412022-09-011417276710.3390/w14172767Long-Term Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics Impairs the Liver Health of MedakaYinfeng Zhou0Li Zhao1Haijing Xu2Elvis Genbo Xu3Mingyou Li4Youji Wang5Key Laboratory of Integrated Rice-Fish Farming, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, ChinaKey Laboratory of Integrated Rice-Fish Farming, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, ChinaKey Laboratory of Integrated Rice-Fish Farming, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, ChinaDepartment of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, DenmarkKey Laboratory of Integrated Rice-Fish Farming, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, ChinaKey Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, ChinaNanoplastic (NP) has become a global environmental concern due to its potentially wide distribution and unknown impacts on organisms. Many laboratory studies have reported the short-term toxicity of NPs but their long-term effects are unclear. Here, the chronic hepatoxic effects of NPs (diameter 100 nm; 0, 10, and 10<sup>4</sup> items/L) in medaka (<i>Oryzias latipes</i>) were evaluated after three-month exposure by investigating the alterations in enzymatic biomarkers (digestion, oxidative status, and immunity) and histopathology in the liver. The trypsin and chymotrypsin activities of digestive enzymes were induced at a low concentration of NPs (10 items/L) but inhibited at high concentration (10<sup>4</sup> items/L); only the amylase activity was significantly decreased in all NP-treated medaka. Oxidative stress was also induced by NP exposure, which was indicated by the responsive superoxide dismutase and catalase. Lysozyme was significantly reduced after exposure to a high concentration of NPs, while alkaline phosphatase was significantly induced at a low concentration. Exposure to NPs also caused liver damage (e.g., congestion and dilated sinusoids). Taken together, our findings show that chronic exposure to NPs at low particle concentrations can impair the liver health of medaka by affecting liver enzymatic functions and causing histological damage. This implies potentially long-term threats of NPs to aquatic organisms, which call for more long-term aquatic toxicological studies on various species using low environmental concentrations.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/17/2767polymer particlefishhepatotoxicitychronic exposure<i>Oryzias latipes</i> |
| spellingShingle | Yinfeng Zhou Li Zhao Haijing Xu Elvis Genbo Xu Mingyou Li Youji Wang Long-Term Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics Impairs the Liver Health of Medaka Water polymer particle fish hepatotoxicity chronic exposure <i>Oryzias latipes</i> |
| title | Long-Term Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics Impairs the Liver Health of Medaka |
| title_full | Long-Term Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics Impairs the Liver Health of Medaka |
| title_fullStr | Long-Term Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics Impairs the Liver Health of Medaka |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-Term Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics Impairs the Liver Health of Medaka |
| title_short | Long-Term Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics Impairs the Liver Health of Medaka |
| title_sort | long term exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics impairs the liver health of medaka |
| topic | polymer particle fish hepatotoxicity chronic exposure <i>Oryzias latipes</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/17/2767 |
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