Effects of polystyrene microplastics acute exposure in the liver of swordtail fish (Xiphophorus helleri) revealed by LC-MS metabolomics

As global pollution, microplastics pollution has aroused growing concerns. In our experiment, the effect of microplastics acute exposure on the liver of swordtail fish was investigated by using LC-MS metabolomics. Fishes treated with high concentration polystyrene microspheres (1 mu m) for 72 h were divided into three concentration groups: (A) no microplastics, (B): 1 x 10(6) microspheres L-1, (C): 1 x10(7) microspheres L-1. Metabolomic analysis indicated that exposure to microplastics caused alterations of metabolic profiles in swordtail fish, including 37 differential metabolites were identified in B vs. A, screened out ten significant metabolites, which involved 14 metabolic pathways. One hundred three differential metabolites were identified in C vs. A, screened out 16 significant metabolites, which involved 30 metabolic pathways. Six significant metabolites were overlapping in group B vs. A and C vs. A; they are 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid, l-histidine, citrulline, linoleic acid, pantothenate, and xanthine. In addition, four metabolic pathways are overlapping in group B vs. A and C vs. A; they are beta-alanine metabolism, biosynthesis of amino acids, linoleic acid metabolism, and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis. These differential metabolites were involved in oxidative stress, immune function, energy metabolism, sugar metabolism, lipid metabolism, molecule transport, and weakened feed utilization, growth performance, nutrient metabolism, and animal growth. Furthermore, we found that the number of interfered amino acids and microplastics showed a dose-effect. In summary, great attention should be paid to the potential impact of microplastics on aquatic organisms.

Automated summary

The acute exposure of swordtail fish to microplastics was found to have adverse effects on their liver, leading to changes in metabolic profiles involving multiple metabolic pathways and metabolites. Microplastics affected oxidative stress, immune function, energy metabolism, sugar metabolism, lipid metabolism, and other physiological processes, as well as feed utilization, growth performance, nutrient metabolism, and animal growth. Additionally, a dose-effect relationship was observed between the quantity of microplastics and the number of affected amino acids.