A team of biologists has discovered that microplastics ingested by mice can reach their brains in just a few hours. Concerned about potential impairments caused by these plastics, the researchers tested several mice and observed that many exhibited memory loss, reduced motor skills, and lower endurance, according to a report by Phys.Org.
In this study, the research team aimed to investigate the medical effects of mammals consuming microplastics of varying sizes. The experiments involved feeding test mice water containing fluorescent plastic fragments of micro to nano sizes. The researchers then tracked where these plastic particles ended up within the mice’s bodies. Understanding that the plastic would transition from the digestive tract into the bloodstream, they employed two-photon microscopy to capture images of the plastic within blood vessels. Additionally, suspecting that the smallest particles could infiltrate the brain, the team created tiny windows in the mice’s skulls to monitor the movement of the plastics in their brains.
By analyzing the imagery they collected, the researchers observed how the plastics traveled throughout the mice’s bodies, ultimately reaching their brains. They noted that the plastic particles often became congested, similar to cars in a traffic jam, at various locations. Upon examining some of these blockages in the brain, they discovered that immune cells had captured the plastic bits, resulting in even more backups. The findings have been published in the journal Science Advances.