ArticleMolecular neurobiology2025
Chronic Exposure to Microplastics Induces Blood-Brain Barrier Impairment, Oxidative Stress, and Neuronal Damage in Rats.
Article in Molecular neurobiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Molecular and Cellular Effects of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in the Pathogenesis of Cardiovascular, Nervous, Urinary, Digestive, and Reproductive System Diseases: A Global Systematic Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Pooled it
- Mechanistic Insights into PET-MPs-Aggravated Ischemic Stroke via Integrated Computational-Experimental Approaches.Environmental science & technology · 2026Article
- Article
- Gut microbiota-GABA axis dysregulation underlies polystyrene microplastic (PS-MP) neurotoxicity in rainbow trout: a role for oxidative stress and blood-brain barrier disruption.NPJ biofilms and microbiomes · 2026Article
- Micro- and Nanoplastics in the Human Brain: Mechanistic Plausibility, Translational Challenges, and Links to Neurological Disease Trends.Molecular neurobiology · 2026Review
- Microplastics Interception from Riverine Ecosystems and Translocation to Fish Internal Organs.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Preliminary study of polyethylene microplastics disrupting energy Metabolism, redox Balance, and prefrontal cortex structure in Wistar rats.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- From the Gut to the Brain: Microplastic-Associated Neurovascular Dysfunction and Implications for Stroke Risk.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026Review
- Pathogenesis of Micro/Nanoplastics in Mammalian Systems: Gut to Systemic Multi-Organ Dysfunction.Research (Washington, D.C.) · 2026Review
- Micro- and nanoplastic exposure as an emerging risk factor for depressive-like phenotypes across species: a systematic review.Frontiers in toxicology · 2026Review
- From environment to brain: the role of microplastics in neurobehavioral disorders.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The widespread prevalence of plastics and in particular, microplastics (MPs) raises concerns about their potential toxic effects. MPs, defined as particles smaller than 5 mm, are distributed throughout ecosystem and can enter the human body through the food chain. There is a lack of knowledge regarding MP potential harmful effects on the mammal's body, especially the brain. This study aimed to examine the impact of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) MPs (< 30 μm) on blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, oxidative stress, and neuronal health. Male rats were exposed to LDPE MPs via oral administration for 3 and 6 weeks. The results revealed no significant changes in brain water content across groups. However, BBB integrity was significantly compromised after both 3 and 6 weeks of exposure. Oxidative stress increased in MP-treated groups, evidenced by decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels and elevated malondialdehyde (MDA). Additionally, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels significantly declined in the 6-week group. Histological analysis indicated neuronal damage and death in both treatment durations. These findings demonstrate that chronic exposure to LDPE MPs impairs BBB integrity, increases oxidative stress, and induces neuronal damage in rats. The results highlight the neurotoxic potential of MPs and emphasize the need for further research to address their possible health risks.
Indexed as
Identifiers
40583085What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.