Publication Date:
2019-07-17
Description:
In this study, we investigated if industrial high-density polyethylene
(HDPE) particles, a model microplastic free of additives, ranging 〉 0−
80 μm are ingested and taken up into the cells and tissue of the blue mussel
Mytilus edulis L. The effects of exposure (up to 96 h) and plastic ingestion were
observed at the cellular and subcellular level. Microplastic uptake into the gills
and digestive gland was analyzed by a new method using polarized light
microscopy. Mussel health status was investigated incorporating histological
assessment and cytochemical biomarkers of toxic effects and early warning. In
addition to being drawn into the gills, HDPE particles were taken up into the
stomach and transported into the digestive gland where they accumulated in the
lysosomal system after 3 h of exposure. Our results show notable histological
changes upon uptake and a strong inflammatory response demonstrated by the
formation of granulocytomas after 6 h and lysosomal membrane destabilization,
which significantly increased with longer exposure times. We provide proof of principle that microplastics are taken up into cells
and cause significant effects on the tissue and cellular level, which can be assessed with standard cytochemical biomarkers and
polarized light microscopy for microplastic tracking in tissue.
Repository Name:
EPIC Alfred Wegener Institut
Type:
Article
,
isiRev
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