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Polystyrene Nanoplastics Can Alter the Toxicological Effects of Simvastatin on Danio rerio.

ABSTRACT: Once in the environment, nanoplastics (NPls) may interact with other contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals, potentially acting as carriers and modulating their toxicity. Thus, the main aim of the current study is to investigate how polystyrene (PS) NPls (mean diameter: 60 nm) interact with simvastatin (SIM), an anticholesterolemic drug, and modulate its toxicity to zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. PS NPls were carboxyl group functionalized, to promote the interaction/binding of NPls with SIM (worst-case scenarios) and it was fluorescently dyed, allowing to detect the intake. Exposure was 96 h to 0-150 mg/L NPls or 0-150 µg/L SIM, as well as to dual combinations (NPls 0.015 or 1.5 mg/L and SIM 12.5 or 15 µg/L). PS NPls alone did not exert effects whereas SIM (≥ 12.5 µg/L) significantly delayed the hatching, decreased the heartbeat, induced edemas and mortality. The combination of NPls (1.5 mg/L) and SIM (12.5 or 15 µg/L) had significant effects on the survival of the organisms while the correspondent NPls and SIM single exposures did not have significant effects on this endpoint. Concerning the malformations appearance, SIM alone had similar effects than when in co-exposures (0.015 mg/L NPls plus 12.5 or 15 µg/L SIM). Hatching and heartbeat increased after the co-exposures SIM and NPls comparing with SIM single exposures, showing that 0.015 mg/L NPls plus 12.5 or 15 µg/L SIM did not cause significant effects on these endpoints. This study shows that NPls effects on bioavailability and toxicity of other contaminants cannot be ignored when assessing the environmental behavior and risks of NPls.

SUBMITTER: Barreto A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7996764 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Plastics are ubiquitous anthropogenic contaminants that are a growing concern in aquatic environments. The ecological implications of macroplastics pollution are well documented, but less is known about nanoplastics. The current study investigates the potential adverse effects of nanoplastics, which likely contribute to the ecological burden of plastic pollution. To this end, we examined whether a dietary exposure of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) to polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs) could lead to the transfer of nanoplastics to the offspring, and whether nanoplastics exposure affects zebrafish physiology. Specifically, adult female and male zebrafish (F0 generation) were exposed to PS NPs via diet for one week and bred to produce the F1 generation. Four F1 groups were generated: control (unexposed females and males), maternal (exposed females), paternal (exposed males), and co-parental (exposed males and females). Co-parental PS NP exposure did not significantly affect reproductive success. Assessment of tissues from F0 fish revealed that exposure to PS NPs significantly reduced glutathione reductase activity in brain, muscle, and testes, but did not affect mitochondrial function parameters in heart or gonads. Assessment of F1 embryos and larvae revealed that PS NPs were present in the yolk sac, gastrointestinal tract, liver, and pancreas of the maternally and co-parentally exposed F1 embryos/larvae. Bradycardia was also observed in embryos from maternal and co-parental exposure groups. In addition, the activity of glutathione reductase and the levels of thiols were reduced in F1 embryos/larvae from maternal and/or co-parental exposure groups. Mitochondrial function and locomotor activity were not affected in F1 larvae. This study demonstrates that (i) PS NPs are transferred from mothers to offspring, and (ii) exposure to PS NPs modifies the antioxidant system in adult tissues and F1 larvae. We conclude that PS NPs could bioaccumulate and be passed on to the offspring, but this does not lead to major physiological disturbances.

Project description:The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is increasing despite insufficient information concerning their long-term effects, including the effects of maternal e-cigarette use on pre- and postnatal development. Our previous study demonstrated that developmental exposure to 1,2-propanediol (a principal component of e-cigarette liquid) affected early development of zebrafish, causing reduced growth, deformities, and hyperactive swimming behavior in larvae. The current study extends assessment of the developmental toxicity of 1,2-propanediol by examining additional long-term behavioral effects. We demonstrate that embryonic/larval exposure of zebrafish to 1,2-propanediol (0.625% or 1.25%) not only affected behavioral parameters in the larvae, but also caused persisting behavioral effects in adults after early developmental exposure. Additional parameters, including neural and vascular development in larvae, stress response in adults, and concentration of neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin in adult brain were examined, in order to explain the behavioral differences. These additional assessments did not find 1,2-propanediol exposure to significantly affect Tg(Neurog1:GFP) or the transcript abundance of neural genes (Neurog1, Ascl1a, Elavl3, and Lef1). Vascular development was not found to be affected by 1,2-propanediol exposure, as inferred from experiments with Tg(Flk1:eGFP) zebrafish; however, transcript abundance of vascular genes (Flk1, Vegf, Tie-2, and Angpt1) was decreased. No statistically significant changes were noted for plasma cortisol or brain neurotransmitters in adult fish. Lastly, analysis of gene transcripts involved with 1,2-propanediol metabolism (Adh5, Aldh2.1, and Ldha) showed an increase in Adh5 transcript. This is the first study to demonstrate that developmental exposure to 1,2-propanediol has long-term neurobehavioral consequences in adult zebrafish, showing that e-cigarettes contain substances potentially harmful to neurodevelopment.

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Polystyrene Nanoplastics Can Alter the Toxicological Effects of Simvastatin on Danio rerio.

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