Polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics induce neurotoxicity in zebrafish via oxidative stress and neurotransmitter disruption
Abstract
The widespread use of plastic products has led to the global accumulation of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in aquatic and terrestrial environments, posing significant risks to ecosystems and human health. This study investigated the neurodevelopmental toxicity of polystyrene MPs (PS-MPs, 5 μm) and NPs (PS-NPs, 60 nm) in zebrafish (Danio rerio) and explored the underlying mechanisms. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to 0.05-50 mg/L PS-MPs/PS-NPs from 2 hour post-fertilization (hpf) to 7 days post-fertilization (dpf). Morphological, behavioral, and molecular endpoints were analyzed. Exposure to polystyrene MPs and NPs (PS-MNPs) induced dose-dependent developmental malformations, including spinal curvature, pericardial edema, and abnormal body pigmentation, accompanied by increased heart rate and body length. Behavioral assays revealed reduced spontaneous tail-coiling in embryos and hyperactive swimming in larvae, particularly under light stimulation. Mechanistic studies showed PS-MNPs disrupted neurotransmitter homeostasis (reduced dopamine, acetylcholine, GABA, and serotonin levels) and altered neurodevelopment-related gene expression (e.g., mbpa, ache, gfap). Oxidative stress was evident via elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and upregulated antioxidant genes (sod1, cat) in PS-NP-exposed larvae. These findings demonstrate that PS-MNPs induce neurodevelopmental toxicity in zebrafish through oxidative stress and neurotransmitter system dysfunction, highlighting the potential risks of plastic pollution to aquatic organisms and human health via trophic transfer.
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Cites a retracted work: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134867
MajorThe cited work was retracted on 2024-12-16 (notice 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177955), before this paper was published (2026-02). Its authors could have known.
Cited work 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134867 · retracted 2024-12-16 · notice 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177955 · this paper published 2026-02
“Malafaia, 2020, Retracted: developmental toxicity in zebrafish exposed to polyethylene microplastics under static and semi-static aquatic systems, Sci. Total Environ., 700, 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134867”
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- Authors
- Li, J., Chen, Y., Chen, Y., Xie, H., Wu, G., Zhang, Y., & Wu, K.
- Affiliations
- Shantou University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Wu, Kusheng
- Venue
- Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2026-02
- Volume
- 300
- Pages
- 110397
- ISSN
- 1532-0456 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4416418506
- Semantic Scholar
- 36ca8ffe440736f8b4dfe83d73f88376fc23df97
- Cited by
- 13
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13
- FWCI
- 2.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province (2024A1515010816)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
- Keywords
- polystyrene microplastics, nanoplastics, developmental neurotoxicity, zebrafish embryos, oxidative stress, dopamine, acetylcholine, GABA, serotonin, reactive oxygen species, antioxidant genes, swimming behavior, developmental malformations, plastic pollution, aquatic organisms
- MeSH terms
- Microplastics, Animals, Behavior, Animal, Embryo, Nonmammalian, Polystyrenes, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Zebrafish, Reactive Oxygen Species, Neurotransmitter Agents, Oxidative Stress, Neurotoxicity Syndromes, Nanoparticles
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