Fig. 5 | Scientific Reports

Fig. 5

From: Polyethylene microplastics disrupt renal function, mitochondrial bioenergetics, redox homeostasis, and histoarchitecture in Wistar rats

Fig. 5

a Representative photomicrographs of kidney tissue from control and PE MPs-exposed groups. H&E-stained kidney sections from (A) control, (B) 15 mg/kg, and (C) 60 mg/kg PE MPs groups (×400). The control kidney demonstrates (red arrow) normal glomeruli and renal tubules with clear Bowman’s spaces. The 15 mg/kg group exhibits mild glomerular shrinkage, tubular epithelial cell swelling, and occasional interstitial inflammatory cells. The 60 mg/kg group shows (yellow arrow) pronounced glomerular atrophy, tubular degeneration, and dense interstitial inflammation, indicating progressive nephrotoxicity with increasing PE MPs exposure. b Quantitative morphometric analysis of glomerular area in kidney sections from control and PE MPs-exposed rats. Data presented as mean ± SEM (n = 25–30 glomeruli per group from 6 rats/group). Glomerular areas were measured using ImageJ software on H&E-stained sections (×400 magnification). Statistical analysis performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001 vs. control; **p < 0.01 vs. 15 mg/kg group.

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