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Transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis reveals hepatic lipid metabolism disruption in Japanese quail under polystyrene microplastics exposure

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Microplastics (MPs) become a global concern due to their impacts on human and wildlife health. In this study, we attempted to determine the hepatotoxic effects of MPs exposure on birds by using a laboratory model animal-Japanese quail ( Coturnix japonica ) through integrating transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis. Seven-day old female chicks were exposed to low concentrations (0.02 mg/kg, 0.4 mg/kg) and high concentration (8 mg/kg) polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) of environmental relevance in the feed for 35 days. The results showed that 0.02 mg/kg and 0.4 mg/kg PS-MPs exposure caused increasing food and water intake with weight gain and liver lipid droplets accumulation while 8 mg/kg PS-MPs exposure induced decreasing food and water intake with weight loss. Moreover, both microstructural damage and ultrastructural injury indicated liver malfunction by PS-MPs exposure. PS-MPs also led to hepatic oxidative stress. Furthermore, untargeted metabolomic analysis showed lipid metabolism disturbance in the liver of PS-MPs exposure. Transcriptomic results also showed molecular signaling pathway disruption in the liver of PS-MPs exposure. Especially, lipid metabolism including peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway, fatty acid oxidation, primary bile acid synthesis and triglyceride metabolism were disrupted by PS-MPs exposure. The present study concluded MPs exposure might have hormetic effects on bird development and it posed risks to bird health with low dose MPs may induce non-alcoholic fatty liver disease while high dose MPs may cause severe histopathological injury and oxidative damage. This study underscored the importance of evaluating the chronic effects of microplastics on birds.

Source: Emerging contaminants

DOI: 10.1016/j.emcon.2025.100548

Authors: Xinxin Zhang, Lingyang Jing, Xiaoqing Pei, Qingyu Zhang, Hongfeng Zhao

Institution: Shaanxi Normal University

Language: English

Topic: Microplastics and Plastic Pollution

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,100

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, The People’s Republic of China