The damage mechanism of microplastic exposure on the gut-muscle axis of Hu sheep (PRJCA048138)
Microplastics, as common persistent pollutants, can enter the bodies of Hu sheep through contaminated feed, drinking water, and environmental deposition. Once in the digestive tract, physical irritation from microplastics scratches intestinal epithelial cells, downregulating tight junction protein expression and increasing intestinal permeability. This triggers endotoxin translocation, leading to inflammatory responses. Once the intestinal barrier is compromised, dysbiosis reduces beneficial metabolites (SCFAs) while increasing harmful substances. This disrupts muscle synthesis and breakdown, ultimately degrading Hu sheep muscle quality and impairing production performance, forming a chain of damage.