Microcystis bloom containing microcystin-LR induces type 2 diabetes mellitus
Toxicology Letters
Qiong ZhangYaping Wang
Abstract
Epidemiological data from Lake Taihu showed significantly higher incidences of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) than in other areas of China. This may be related to the occurrence of a Microcystis bloom in Lake Taihu in the summer and autumn every year. The objective of this study is to investigate whether the contaminated water from the Microcystis bloom and the derivative pollutant microcystin-LR (MC-LR) can explain the higher incidences of T2DM. Healthy male mice were fed with water from different regions of Lake Taihu, and were either acutely or chronically exposed to MC-LR through oral administration or intraperitoneal injection. Serum lipid profiles were determined, and the effects on T2DM-related gene expression and insulin receptor signaling pathway were investigated. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance (IPGTT) and insulin resistance (IRT) tests were implemented, and the functions of pancreatic islet and β-cell were also evaluated. The results showed that both water sampled from the region with a Microcysis bloom and those containing MC-LR altered the serum glucide and lipid profiles in mice after exposure. The exposure to a Microcysis bloom water affected the expression T2DM-related genes: up-regulated the mRNA levels of ...Continue Reading