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Microplastics reach the brain and interfere with honey bee cognition
Elisa Pasquini1, Federico Ferrante2, Leonardo Passaponti3
1Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy; Center for Mind/Brain Science (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy.
The Science of the Total Environment
|December 21, 2023
Summary
Microplastics (MPs) negatively impact honey bee cognitive functions and behavior. Exposure to polystyrene and plexiglass MPs, individually or combined, impaired learning, memory, and sucrose responsiveness, with MPs accumulating in the brain.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Microplastic (MP) research in terrestrial ecosystems is growing, revealing adverse health effects.
- While individual MP polymer toxicity in honey bees is known, combined effects on cognition are unstudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of polystyrene (PS) and plexiglass (PMMA) microplastics, alone and combined, on honey bee cognitive performance and brain accumulation.
- To determine if small MPs can penetrate the insect blood-brain barrier.
Main Methods:
- Oral exposure of Apis mellifera to PS (4.8-5.8 μm) and PMMA (1-40 μm) MPs, and a mixture (MIX), at 0.5, 5, and 50 mg L⁻¹.
- Assessed sucrose responsiveness, olfactory learning, and memory.
- Used fluorescent MPs and Two-Photon Fluorescence Microscopy (TPFM) with DISCO clearing to visualize brain penetration.
Main Results:
- PS reduced sucrose responsiveness; PMMA had no significant effect, but MIX had a marked negative effect.
- All MP treatments (PS, PMMA, MIX) impaired learning and memory, with PS being most severe.
- 1-5 μm MPs were found to penetrate and accumulate in the honey bee brain within three days.
Conclusions:
- Combined MP exposure exacerbates negative effects on honey bee sucrose responsiveness.
- Microplastics pose a significant threat to honey bee cognitive function and central nervous system health.
- MPs can breach the blood-brain barrier, indicating potential for widespread neurological damage.
