Maternal-Derived Polystyrene Nanoplastics Impair Early Retinal Development in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) - PubMed
3 days ago
- #retinal development
- #nanoplastics
- #zebrafish
- Polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) injected into zebrafish zygotes to simulate maternal exposure cause microphthalmia and retinal abnormalities in larvae.
- PS-NPs accumulate in retinal layers, particularly near photoreceptors, leading to thinning and disorganization of outer segments and mitochondrial damage.
- Transcriptome analysis shows enrichment in visual cycle pathways, especially retinol binding, with activation of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.
- While some abnormalities diminish over time, outer segment thinning persists, indicating long-term effects on photoreceptor and RPE function.
- The study highlights potential visual risks from maternally derived nanoplastic exposure, emphasizing direct physical and indirect biochemical damage mechanisms.