Exposure to microplastics induces lower survival, oxidative stress, disordered microbiota and altered metabolism in the intestines of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Xuewen Jia; Yang Liu; Yan He; Hongyan Yu; Yuting Liu; Yubang Shen; Xiaoyan Xu; Jiale Li

Aquaculture and Fisheries (Sep 2024)

Exposure to microplastics induces lower survival, oxidative stress, disordered microbiota and altered metabolism in the intestines of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Xuewen Jia,
Yang Liu,
Yan He,
Hongyan Yu,
Yuting Liu,
Yubang Shen,
Xiaoyan Xu,
Jiale Li

Affiliations

Xuewen Jia: Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China; National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
Yang Liu: Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China; National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
Yan He: Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China; National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
Hongyan Yu: Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China; National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
Yuting Liu: Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China; National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
Yubang Shen: Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China; National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
Xiaoyan Xu: Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China; National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China; Corresponding author. Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China.
Jiale Li: Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China; National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China; Corresponding author. Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9, no. 5
pp. 785 – 794

Abstract

Read online

There are major gaps in illustrating the risk to freshwater fish that are exposed to environmental microplastics (MPs), even though MPs in freshwater environments has drawn much concern. To explore the potentially negative effects of microplastics on freshwater fish, grass carp (averaging 9.215 ± 0.035g) were exposed to microplastics (32–40 μm in diameter) at two environmental concentrations (100 and 1000 μg/L) for 21 days, and evaluated for physio-biochemical performance, gut microbiome, and metabolome responses. After exposure, microplastics were detected in the intestine and within basal nuclei and goblet cells hyperplasia. Antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase and catalase) also significantly decreased within the intestines (P < 0.05). Through 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis, a decrease in diversity and richness was observed in the MPs-H and MPs-L groups. The abundance of opportunistic pathogens increased and beneficial bacteria decreased in both MP treatments. For example, Acinetobacter and Bosea proportions were higher in the MPs-L group, while Bacteroides and Shewanella increased in the MPs-H group. Furthermore, abundance of Lactobacillus decreased both in the MPs-H and MPs-L groups. Metabolomics analysis revealed primary bile acid biosynthesis metabolism upregulated in the MPs-L and purine metabolism downregulated in the MPs-H group. Additionally, an integration analysis of the gut microbiome and metabolomics identified significant associations between several bacteria taxa and metabolites related to intestinal repair. Taken together, these results highlighted the negative effects on intestinal morphology, oxidative stress, and microbiome and emphasized the relationship between microbiota and metabolites in response to microplastics, which could provide comprehensive insights into the potential risks of MPs on freshwater fish intestines.

Published in Aquaculture and Fisheries

ISSN: 2468-550X (Online)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/aquaculture-and-fisheries

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords