Figure 3.

GI transit ratio and intestinal length. (a) Actual image showing the charcoal meal transit and intestine. The total intestinal tract was excised from mice of each subset group treated with charcoal meal powder. Morphology was observed using a digital camera. The arrows indicate position of the charcoal meal. (b) Transit ratio of the charcoal meal and the length of intestine. The total distance travelled by the charcoal meal from the pylorus was measured. The charcoal meal transit ratio was then calculated using total length of the intestine and distance of the charcoal meal. Four to six mice per group were used in the GI transit ratio test, and the charcoal meal transit distance and intestine length were measured in duplicate. The data are reported as the mean ± SD. *, p < 0.05 compared to the Vehicle treated group. Abbreviation: LoMP, Low concentration of microplastics; MiMP, Medium concentration of microplastics; HiMP, High concentration of microplastics.