[Effects of nanopolystyrene nanoplastic exposure on the development and neurotoxicity of fetal rats during gestation]

Zhongguo Ying Yong Sheng Li Xue Za Zhi. 2022 Nov;38(6):760-765. doi: 10.12047/j.cjap.6379.2022.138.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) exposure during gestation on the growth and neurotoxicity of fetal rats. Methods: Twenty-seven SD pregnant rats were randomly divided into 9 groups with three rats in each group. The experimental group of PS-NPs was given 0.5, 2.5, 10 and 50 mg/kg of PS-NPs suspension with different particle sizes (25 and 50 nm) by gavage, wihe the control group was given ultrapure water by gavage. The time of gavage is from the 1st to the 18th day of pregnancy. The morphological changes of the placenta were observed; compare the number of male and female fetuses, live/dead/absorbed fetuses, body weight, body length, placental weight, and organ coefficients of kidney, liver, brain and intestine of fetal rats; the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and striatum of the fetal rats were taken to measure related biochemical indicators. Results: Compared with the control group, the placenta of the PS-NPs exposed group was found to have structural damage, which increased in a dose-dependent manner. The area ratio of trophoblast was significantly increased (P<0.05), and the area ratio of labyrinth was significantly decreased (P<0.05); In the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and striatum of fetal rats, the levels of IL-1β, IL -6 and TNF-α were significantly increased in the 10 and 50 mg/kg PS-NPs exposed group (P<0.05), and more significantly elevated in the 25 nm group than those in the 50 nm group at 10 mg/kg exposure (P<0.05) the CAT activity was significantly decreased in 2.5, 10 and 50 mg/kg PS-NPs exposure groups (P<0.05), while the SOD and GSH-Px activities were significantly decreased in 25 nm exposure groups and 2.5, 10 and 50 mg/kg 50 nm PS-NPs exposure groups (P<0.05), the MDA content was significantly increased in 10, 50 mg/kg 25 nm PS-NPs exposure groups and 50 mg/kg 50 nm PS-NPs exposure groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: Maternal PS-NPs exposure during gestation may affect the growth and development of fetal rats by damaging the placental barrier and produce neurotoxicity in fetal rats, causing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in various brain regions, and smaller particle sizes and higher doses of polystyrene nanoplastic exposure have more significant neurotoxic effects on the offspring.

目的: 探究妊娠期聚苯乙烯纳米塑料(PS-NPs) 暴露对胎鼠生长发育和神经毒性的影响。方法: 27只SD孕大鼠随机分为9组,每组3只,PS-NPs实验组分别灌胃不同粒径(25和50 nm)分别给予0.5、2.5、10、50 mg/kg的PS-NPs悬液,对照组灌胃超纯水。灌胃时间为孕期第1~18日。观察胎盘组织形态变化;比较胎鼠雌雄数、活/死/吸收胎数、体重、体长、胎盘重量及胎鼠肾、肝、脑、肠脏器系数等;胎鼠取脑前额叶皮质、海马及纹状体测定相关生化指标。结果: 与对照组相比,PS-NPs暴露组的胎盘发现结构损伤,且呈剂量依赖性加重,滋养层面积比显著增加(P<0.05),迷路层面积比显著降低(P<0.05);在胎鼠前额叶、海马以及纹状体中,IL-1β、IL-6和TNF-α在10、50 mg/kg PS-NPs暴露组中显著升高(P<0.05),且在10 mg/kg的暴露下25 nm组比50 nm组升高更显著(P< 0.05),CAT活性在2.5、10和50 mg/kg PS-NPs暴露组下显著降低(P<0.05),SOD和GSH-Px活性在25 nm暴露组和2.5、10、50 mg/kg 50 nm PS-NPs暴露组中显著降低(P<0.05),MDA含量在10、50 mg/kg 25 nm PS-NPs暴露组和50 mg/kg 50 nm PS-NPs暴露组中显著升高(P<0.05)。结论: 妊娠期母体PS-NPs暴露可能通过损伤胎盘屏障,影响胎鼠生长发育,并对胎鼠产生神经毒性,引起各脑区氧化应激及炎症反应,且小粒径、高剂量聚苯乙烯纳米塑料暴露对子代神经毒性影响更显著。.

Keywords: embryotoxicity; growth and development; nanoplastics; neurotoxicity; rats.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Corpus Striatum
  • Female
  • Fetus
  • Male
  • Microplastics*
  • Placenta
  • Polystyrenes*
  • Pregnancy
  • Rats

Substances

  • Microplastics
  • Polystyrenes