Endocrine Abstracts

Microplastics are one of the major pollutants over the globe jeopardising the health of aquatic life. The ecotoxicological effects of microplastics are well investigated in marine organisms, however, their impact on freshwater ecosystem remain unnoticed. Gastropod molluscs serve as good bioindicators for environmental toxicology. Therefore, we studied two commonly found freshwater snails, Lymnaea acuminata and Indoplanorbis exustus and checked the effect of microplastics obtained from 3 polymers; polypropylene, polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride. The aim of our study was to prepare microplastics, their characterization and to examine the oxidative damage caused by them. Also, the neurotoxicity and genotoxicity caused due to microplastics were assessed. The behavioural assay was performed to scrutinize the predator-prey interactions. Lipid peroxidation levels, catalase activity and superoxide dismutase activity were elevated in the intestine and ovotestis after microplastic exposure. It was found that, polypropylene caused less oxidative damage than polystyrene, while, highest damage was caused by polyvinyl chloride. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and DNA damage was maximum in polyvinyl chloride exposure as compared to polypropylene and polystyrene. Variations in the antioxidant enzyme level, acetylcholinesterase activities and DNA damage are indicative of oxidative stress, neurotoxicity and genotoxicity in snails. Microplastic exposure also disrupted their ability to detect the presence of predator in their surroundings. Physiological and behavioural parameters of these organisms can reveal the consequences of environmental toxicity.