Chronic exposure to high-density polyethylene microplastic through feeding alters the nutrient metabolism of juvenile yellow perch (Perca flavescens)

Microplastics are emergent contaminants threatening aquatic organisms including aquacultured fish. This study investigated the effects of high-density polyethylene (HDPE, 100 to 125 μm) on yellow perch (Perca flavescens) based on integrative evaluation including growth performance, nutritional status, nutrient metabolism, fish health, and gut microbial community. Five test diets (0, 1, 2, 4, or 8 g HDPE/100 g diet) containing 41% protein and 10.5% lipid were fed to juvenile perch (average body weight, 25.9 ± 0.2 g; n = 15) at a feeding rate of 1.5% to 2.0% body weight daily. The feeding trial was conducted in a flow-through water system for 9 wk with 3 tanks per treatment and 15 yellow perch per tank. No mortality or HDPE accumulation in the fish was found in any treatments. Weight gain and condition factor of fish were not significantly impacted by HDPE (P > 0.05). Compared to the control group, fish fed the 8% HDPE diet had significantly decreased levels of protein and ash (P < 0.05). In response to the increasing levels of HDPE exposure, the hepatosomatic index value, hepatocyte size, and liver glycogen level were increased, but lipid content was reduced in the liver tissues. Compared to the control treatment, fish fed the 8% HDPE diet had significant accumulations of total bile acids and different metabolism pathways such as bile acid biosynthesis, pyruvate metabolism, and carnitine synthesis. Significant enterocyte necrosis was documented in the foregut of fish fed the 2% or 8% HDPE diet; and significant cell sloughing was observed in the midgut and hindgut of fish fed the 8% HDPE diet. Fish fed the 2% HDPE diet harbored different microbiota communities compared to the control fish. This study demonstrates that HDPE ranging from 100 to 125 μm in feed can be evacuated by yellow perch with no impact on growth. However, dietary exposure to HDPE decreased whole fish nutrition quality, altered nutrient metabolism and the intestinal histopathology as well as microbiota community of yellow perch. The results indicate that extended exposure may pose a risk to fish health and jeopardize the nutrition quality of aquacultured end product. This hypothesis remains to be investigated further.