Protective Role of Kelulut Honey against Toxicity Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics on Morphology, Hormones, and Sex Steroid Receptor Expression in the Uterus of Rats
Author:
Amran Nur Hanisah1, Zaid Siti Sarah Mohamad1, Meng Goh Yong2ORCID, Salleh Annas3ORCID, Mokhtar Mohd Helmy4ORCID
Affiliation:
1. Department of Environment, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia 2. Department of Veterinary Pre-Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia 3. Department of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnostic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia 4. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
Abstract
Background: Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging global pollutant. Previous studies have revealed that chronic exposure to MPs can affect animal and human reproductive health, particularly by impairing the reproductive system’s normal functions, which may increase the risk of infertility in both males and females. Kelulut honey (KH), an excellent source of antioxidants, has been used to counteract the disruptive effects of Polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) in the rat uterus. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of Kelulut honey against PS-MPs-induced uterine toxicity in pubertal rats. Methods: Prepubertal female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups (n = 8): (i) normal control group (NC: treated with deionized water), MPs-exposed group (M: exposed to PS-MPs at 2.5 mg/kg), (iii) Kelulut honey group (DM: pretreated with 1200 mg/kg of KH 30 minutes before they were administered with PS-MPs at 2.5 mg/kg), and (iv) Kelulut honey control group (DC: only treated with KH at 2.5 mg/kg). The rats were treated orally once daily for six consecutive weeks. Results: Uterine abnormalities in PS-MPs-exposed rats were significantly improved after concurrent treatment with Kelulut honey. Morphology improvement was observed and luminal epithelial cells seemed thicker with more goblet cells, glandular cells had a more regular and circular shape, stromal cell increased in size, interstitial gaps between stromal cells expanded, and the myometrium layer was thicker. Kelulut honey treatment also effectively normalized the suppressive effect of PS-MPs on the expression and distribution of sex steroid receptors (ERα and ERβ), as well as the level of serum gonadotropin (LH and FSH) and sex steroid (estradiol and progesterone) hormones. Conclusion: Kelulut honey can protect the female reproductive system against the disruptive effects of PS-MPs. The phytochemical properties of Kelulut honey might be responsible for these beneficial benefits. However, future studies are warranted to identify the mechanisms involved.
Funder
the Ministry of Higher Education Fundamental Research Grant Scheme Geran Inisiatif Putra Siswazah
Subject
Chemical Health and Safety,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis,Toxicology
Reference74 articles.
1. The biogeography of the Plastisphere: Implications for policy;Zettler;Front. Ecol. Environ.,2015 2. Pollutants bioavailability and toxicological risk from microplastics to marine mussels;Avio;Environ. Pollut.,2015 3. Microplastics in bivalves cultured for human consumption;Janssen;Environ. Pollut.,2014 4. Huerta, E., Mendoza Vega, J., Quej, V.K., Chi, J.d.l.A., Sanchez del Cid, L., Quijano, C., Escalona-Segura, G., Gertsen, H., Salánki, T., and van der Ploeg, M. (2017, January 23–28). Bioaccumulation of microplastics in the terrestrial food chain: An example from home gardens in SE Mexico. Proceedings of the EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, Vienna, Austria. 5. Microplastics in eviscerated flesh and excised organs of dried fish;Karami;Sci. Rep.,2017
|
|