(OR09-05-25) Adverse Effects of Nanoplastics Administration on the Metabolic Profile and Glucose Control in Mice

Objectives: Microplastics (MP) and nanoplastics (NP) are a growing health concern globally. Microplastics (MP) have emerged as environmental pollutant due to the risks they pose to both wildlife and human health. The breakdown of plastics leads to the formation of high amounts of MPs and NPs. This has led to animal consumption within their natural environments, accumulating up the food chain. MPs and NPs can further be consumed through contamination during food production and leaching from packaging surrounding food and drinks. Despite MPs and NPs ubiquitous exposure to humans through food, products, water, and air, the toxicity and implications for human health have yet to be fully elucidated, and the mechanisms are largely unexplored. Due to this we investigated the effects of NP on the metabolic profile as well as the impacts on liver, kidney, and gastrointesinal (GI) tract. 

Methods: Twelve-week-old male C57/B6J mice were administered 60mg/kg/day of 10% of 0.96um monosized polystyrene NP via oral gavage for seven weeks. Body weight was taken daily to determine dose. Glucose tolerance, endotoxin, and gut permeability tests were performed between week six and seven of exposure.

Results: Ingestion of NP led to glucose intolerance as demonstrated by decreased clearance of glucose in glucose tolerance tests. Hepatic function was significantly impacted by NP given elevated ALT levels. In keeping with increased NP-induced liver injury, we observed increased level of endotoxin in NP-treated mice. Additionally, we observed an increase in in-vivo gut permeability in NP-treated mice.

Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that NP contributes to hepatic dysfunction, increased gut permeability, and alters glucose control. We continue to study the impacts of kidney function, as these are currently in process.

Funding Sources: The project described was supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.