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Assessment of the effects of single and combined exposure to microplastics and environmental pollutants on the nervous system and neurobehavior

Research Project

Project/Area Number 22K12408
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Section一般
Review Section Basic Section 63040:Environmental impact assessment-related
Research InstitutionNational Institute for Environmental Studies

Principal Investigator

Tin・Tin Win・Shwe  国立研究開発法人国立環境研究所, 環境リスク・健康領域, シニア研究員 (00391128)

Project Period (FY) 2022-04-01 – 2025-03-31
Project Status Granted (Fiscal Year 2023)
Budget Amount *help
¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000)
Fiscal Year 2024: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
Fiscal Year 2023: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
Fiscal Year 2022: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000)
Keywordsmicroplastics / nanoplastics / combined exposure / carbon nanoparticles / neurotoxicity / rats / environmental pollutants / single/combined exposure / neurobehavior / Microplastics / Environmental pollutants / Single/combined exposure / Neurotoxicity / Neurobehavior
Outline of Research at the Start

Microplastics (MPs) pollution has gradually become into a global environmental problem and paid attention by government, society and academia. However, it is unclear whether exposure to MPs affects living organisms, can co-exposure with other environmental pollutants affects central nervous system and early life exposure causes developmental neurotoxicity in later life. Understanding the effects and mechanism of MPs exposure and combined exposure with well-known environmental pollutants would be helpful for neurotoxicity assessment, environmental management, and environmental conservation.

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

The rats were divided into four groups: 1) control group, 2) polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNP) group (50 mg/Kg, 3 days/week, 4 weeks, oral), 3) carbon nanoparticles (CN) group (20 μg/m3 5 h/day, 5 days/week, 4 weeks, inhalation), and 4) PSNP + CN group. PSNP, CN or PSNP+CN-groups showed a significant reduction in the number of center entries and duration of stay. PSNP alone-exposed rats showed poor discrimination ability. Increased glutamate levels, and decreased NMDA subunits (NR1, NR2B), and CREB1, CAMKIV mRNA were observed in the hippocampus of CN alone or PSNP + CN groups. SOD and CAT were significantly lower, while IL-1beta, TNF-alpha and Iba1 mRNAs were remarkably higher in CN alone or PSNP+CG groups. Thus, combined exposure to PSNP and CN had synergistic toxic effects.

Current Status of Research Progress
Current Status of Research Progress

2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.

Reason

As a research plan, the experiments were performed, and the results were presented in domestic (Japan society of Hygiene) and international (European Society of Toxicology) conferences.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

Pregnant rats (n = 24) will be allocated to four groups as 1) the control group, 2) PSNP oral exposure group (50 mg/Kg, 3 days/week, 4 weeks), 3) carbon nanoparticles (CN, 20 μg/m3 5 h/day, 5 days/week, 4 weeks) inhalation exposure group and 4) PSNP + CN exposure group. PSNP group will be administered PSNP dissolved in sterile water from gestational (GD) 14 to postnatal day (PND) 21 in the clean air and CN chamber. At the age of 9-week-old, male and female offspring (n = 8) will be subjected to cognitive and anxiety behaviors. Then, neurological, and immunological biomarkers in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of male and female rats will be examined using real time RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analyses.

Report

(2 results)
  • 2023 Research-status Report
  • 2022 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (3 results)

All 2023 2022

All Presentation (3 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 1 results)

  • [Presentation] Exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics alters neuroimmune markers and impairs learning and memory function in rats2023

    • Author(s)
      Tin-Tin Win-Shwe
    • Organizer
      Japanese Society of Hygiene
    • Related Report
      2023 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] Neurotoxicity in rats following oral exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics2023

    • Author(s)
      Tin-Tin Win-Shwe
    • Organizer
      European Society of Toxicology
    • Related Report
      2023 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Effects of Oral Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics on the Brain of Rats2022

    • Author(s)
      Tin-Tin Win-Shwe
    • Organizer
      第93回日本衛生学会学術総会
    • Related Report
      2022 Research-status Report

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Published: 2022-04-19   Modified: 2024-12-25  

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