조피볼락(Sebastes schlegelii)의 혈액성상, 혈장성분 및 항산화 반응에 미치는 미세플라스틱의 독성 영향 = Toxic Effects of Microplastic on Hematological Parameters, Plasma Components, and Antioxidant Responses in the Korean Rockfish Sebastes schlegelii

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of polyethylene microplastic (PE-MPs) via measuring the growth performance, hematological parameters, and antioxidant responses in Korean rockfish Sebastes schlegelii exposed to waterborne polyethylene microplastic with dimensions of 22–71 μm. S. schlegelii (mean weight, 34.55±5.82 g; mean length, 12.59±0.79 cm) were exposed to PE-MPs at concentrations of 0, 400, 800, 1,600 and 3,200 μg/L for 10 and 20 days. PE-MPs significantly affected growth performance, hematological parameters, plasma components, and antioxidant responses in a concentration-dependent manner. At a concentration ≥1,600 μg/L, PE-MPs significantly decreased body weight gain and specific growth rate, and significantly increased the hepatosomatic index. Hematological parameters showed a significant decrease in total red blood cell count and hemoglobin levels. Plasma components showed a significant increase in glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine transaminase levels, whereas total protein, calcium, and magnesium levels significantly decreased. Exposure to ≥1,600 μg/L PE-MPs also induced reactive oxygen species generation in the gill and liver, significantly increasing superoxide dismutase and catalase activity.
These findings suggest that exposure to ≥1,600 μg/L PE-MPs could significantly change growth performance, hematological parameters, plasma components, and antioxidant responses, resulting in physiological toxicity.