ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Dose-Dependent Genotoxicity and Gene
Expression Induced by Oral Exposure
to PVC-MPs in Mus musculus
More details
Hide details
1
Department of Wildlife and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore-Pakistan
2
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore-Pakistan
3
Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore-Pakistan
Submission date: 2024-10-11
Final revision date: 2024-11-07
Acceptance date: 2025-01-24
Online publication date: 2025-03-06
Corresponding author
Safdar Sidra
Department of Wildlife and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, 54600, Lahore, Pakistan
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Chronic exposure to microplastics can affect DNA integrity and alter gene expression within living
beings. The current study involved the dietary administration of varying doses of polyvinyl chloride
microplastics (PVC-MPs) mixed with basal feed to five different groups of albino mice for thirty-five days
and determining their potential toxicity in terms of DNA damage, micronucleus formation, oxidative
stress, and gene expression. The results of the alkaline comet assay indicated a positive correlation
between doses with increased DNA damage and fragmentation, with maximum damage observed in
treatment 4 (0.8 mg/kg/BW). The damage index increased from 99 in T1 (0.1mg of MPs/kg/BW) to 219
in T4 (0.8mg of MPs/KG/BW) in liver cells, while for kidney cells, the value increased from 108 for T1
to 211 in T4. Likewise, a strong positive correlation was observed between the doses and Binuclei (BN)
formation (n = 4; r = 0 .950), d oses a nd M icronuclei ( MN) f ormation (n = 4; r = 0.984), a nd b etween
BN a nd M N (n = 4; r = 0.953) at t he 0.05 significance level. A n i ncrease i n m alondialdehyde ( MDA)
levels indicated increased lipid peroxidation, with a proportional increase in MP doses administered to
experimental groups. Gene expression for OGG1 and HPRT1 genes was determined, and a remarkable
fold change was observed in relation to the increase in doses. The study’s findings conclude that an
increase in microplastic exposure can cause significant damage to animal health.