Polystyrene nanoplastics disrupt glucose metabolism and cortisol levels with a possible link to behavioural changes in larval zebrafish
Open accessAbstract
Plastic nanoparticles originating from weathering plastic waste are emerging contaminants in aquatic environments, with unknown modes of action in aquatic organisms. Recent studies suggest that internalised nanoplastics may disrupt processes related to energy metabolism. Such disruption can be crucial for organisms during development and may ultimately lead to changes in behaviour. Here, we investigated the link between polystyrene nanoplastic (PSNP)-induced signalling events and behavioural changes. Larval zebrafish exhibited PSNP accumulation in the pancreas, which coincided with a decreased glucose level. By using hyperglycemic and glucocorticoid receptor (Gr) mutant larvae, we demonstrate that the PSNP-induced disruption in glucose homoeostasis coincided with increased cortisol secretion and hyperactivity in challenge phases. Our work sheds new light on a potential mechanism underlying nanoplastics toxicity in fish, suggesting that the adverse effect of PSNPs are at least in part mediated by Gr activation in response to disrupted glucose homeostasis, ultimately leading to aberrant locomotor activity.
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At least for fish, nanoplastics can cross the blood brain barrier, accumulate in several vital organs, and disrupt metabolism and hormonal signalling.
“Noteworthy is that at least for sh, nanoplastics can cross the blood brain barrier, 16 accumulate in several vital organs, 158,159 and disrupt metabolism and hormonal signalling.158”
From The fate of plastic in the ocean environment – a minireview (2021) · cites this paper as [158]
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References 73 · Cited by 246
- Authors
- Brun, N. R., van Hage, P., Hunting, E. R., Haramis, A.-P. G., Vink, S. C., Vijver, M. G., Schaaf, M. J. M., & Tudorache, C.
- Affiliations
- Leiden University (NL)
- University of Bristol (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Brun, Nadja R.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Communications Biology
- Published
- 2019-10-18
- Volume
- 2
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 382-382
- ISSN
- 2399-3642 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6802380
- OpenAlex
- W2980539420
- Cited by
- 246
- References
- 73
- Citations by year
- 2026: 28 · 2025: 47 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 48 · 2022: 46 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 6.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Communications Biology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Leiden Repository (Leiden University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Leiden Repository (Leiden University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Open Access Server of the Woods Hole Scientific Community (Woods Hole Scientific Community) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Leiden Repository (Leiden University) (submittedVersion)
- Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (864.13.010)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
- Keywords
- polystyrene nanoplastics, nanoplastic toxicity, glucose homeostasis, cortisol, glucocorticoid receptor, zebrafish larvae, locomotor activity, hyperactivity, pancreas, energy metabolism, behavior change
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Energy Metabolism, Glucose, Hydrocortisone, Larva, Motor Activity, Mutation, Plastics, Polystyrenes, Receptors, Glucocorticoid, Tissue Distribution, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Zebrafish, Zebrafish Proteins, Animals, Genetically Modified, Nanoparticles
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