Microplastics are ubiquitous contaminants in aquatic ecosystems and may impact the reproduction and development of freshwater organisms. However, most laboratory studies rely on pristine microplastics, potentially underestimating their ecotoxicological risks. To enhance environmental realism, this study evaluated the chronic effects on reproductive fitness and early development of microplastics produced from plastic waste collected in the Ikopa River (Madagascar). Adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to microplastics fragments for 45 days. Subsequently, a reproduction assay was conducted over 21 days following OECD Test Guideline 229 at environmentally relevant concentrations (100 and 1000 μg/L). The results demonstrated that exposure to environmental microplastics reduced adult fertility and fecundity, induced ovarian maturation delays, and disrupted liver protein pathways related to energy and amino acid metabolism in a sex- and concentration-dependent manner. Embryos exhibited bradycardia, reduced tail coiling frequency, and impaired locomotor behavior. These findings highlight the significant risks posed by environmentally relevant microplastics to freshwater ecosystems and underscore the importance of considering realistic exposure scenarios in ecological risk assessments.
| Date of Award | 2024 |
|---|
| Original language | English |
|---|
| Awarding Institution | - University of Namur
- Université Catholique de Louvain
|
|---|
| Supervisor | Patrick Kestemont (Supervisor) & Valerie Cornet (Co-Supervisor) |
|---|
- Aged microplastics
- Mixture
- Reproductive toxicity
- Developmental toxicity
- Proteomics
Assessing the effects of environmental microplastics on zebrafish (Danio rerio) sexual maturation and reproductive capacity
Ducarme, B. (Author). 2024
Student thesis: Master types › Master in Biology of Organisms and Ecology, Research focus