Effects of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) microplastics to the gene expression of bcl-2 and caspase-3 in ICR mice

Tai, Zi Zun (2022) Effects of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) microplastics to the gene expression of bcl-2 and caspase-3 in ICR mice. Final Year Project, UTAR.

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Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) have become an emerging threat to global environments and human health due to drastically increased worldwide production, use, and waste of plastics. MPs can potentially accumulate and cause adverse health effects in humans and mammals by exposure through ingestion. However, the toxicity effects of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) MPs in humans and mammals are not well understood. In this study, the alterations of the gene expression of BCL-2 and caspase-3 in the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway of mice livers were investigated by oral administration (three different doses of PVC MPs of 0.05, 0.50, and 2.50 mg/mL) in 25 male ICR mice. The PVC microplastics in extra virgin olive oil were administered to the mice using oral gavage for 28-day repeatedly, and the body weight was measured daily. Then, all the mice were sacrificed, and livers were harvested. Total RNAs were extracted from mice livers and cDNAs were synthesized. The mRNA expression of BCL-2 and caspase-3 was investigated using real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and the fold-change of mRNA expression of both genes was compared to control and among MPs treatment groups. In the 28-day single oral dose toxicity experiments, there were no remarkable differences in the body weight changes of male mice of all treatment groups and no changes in the gross appearance of mice livers. However, the liver index was higher in the MPs-treated groups as compared to control. Moreover, the orally ingested PVC MPs resulted in dose dependent effects on mRNA expression of both targeted genes. The mRNA expression of BCL-2 was reduced while that of caspase-3 was increased in livers of MPs-treated groups as compared to control. This study provides evidence of orally ingested PVC MPs-induced toxicity in mice livers.

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