Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics during gestation and lactation induces hepatic and testicular toxicity in male mouse offspring

Huang, Tao; Zhang, Wenjuan; Lin, Tingting; Liu, Shujuan; Sun, Zhangbei; Liu, Fangming; Yuan, Yangyang; Xiang, Xiting; Kuang, Haibin; Yang, Bei; Zhang, Dalei

doi:10.1016/j.fct.2021.112803

Cited by 84 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…29 Interestingly, it was recently reported that male offspring mice experienced hepatic and testicular injury after exposure to PS-NPs during pregnancy. 30 Additionally, there have been numerous findings associating prenatal insults with changes in intestine growth and function in both newborns and adults, and examples of these prenatal exposures include alcohol and cocaine. 31−33 The impact of maternal exposure to PS-NPs on intestinal toxicity in adult offspring remains unclear.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Importantly, some nanoparticles (e.g., carbon nanotubes) have possible teratogenic effects, although it is unclear whether these effects are direct (via translocated particles) or indirect (via maternal or placental factors). , Collectively, as a result of numerous studies, it is now known that the fetus could be impacted either directly by nanoparticle transfer through the placenta or indirectly by changes in placental function via cytokines and other secondary messengers that are triggered in response to inflammatory processes and/or oxidative stress in affected mothers . Interestingly, it was recently reported that male offspring mice experienced hepatic and testicular injury after exposure to PS-NPs during pregnancy . Additionally, there have been numerous findings associating prenatal insults with changes in intestine growth and function in both newborns and adults, and examples of these prenatal exposures include alcohol and cocaine. − The impact of maternal exposure to PS-NPs on intestinal toxicity in adult offspring remains unclear.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ferroptosis Is Involved in Sex-Specific Small Intestinal Toxicity in the Offspring of Adult Mice Exposed to Polystyrene Nanoplastics during Pregnancy

Tang

et al. 2023

ACS Nano

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Nanoplastics are common contaminants in the living environment. Thus far, no investigations have focused on small intestinal injury in the offspring of adult mice that were exposed to nanoplastics through the respiratory system during pregnancy. Here, we evaluated potential intestinal injury in the offspring of adult mice that were subjected to maternal 80 nm polystyrene nanoparticle (PS-NP) exposure during gestation. PS-NP exposure significantly reduced the birth weight of female mice compared with male mice. However, the adult body weights of the female and male offspring were substantially greater in the PS-NP-exposed groups. Additionally, we found that exposure to PS-NPs during pregnancy caused histological changes in the small intestines of both female and male offspring. Mechanistic analysis revealed upregulation of reactive oxygen species in the small intestines, as indicated by changes in the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, exposure to PS-NPs led to downregulation of GPx4, FTH1, and FTL protein levels, indicating initiation of ferroptosis. Notably, the changes in mRNA expression levels of GPx4, FTH1, and FTL differed between female and male offspring. Although all phenotypes failed to demonstrate classic dose-dependent effects, the data imply that small intestinal toxicity is greater in female offspring than in male offspring. Our results suggest that PS-NP exposure during pregnancy causes sex-specific small intestinal toxicity, which might contribute to reactive oxygen species activation and subsequent ferroptosis. Overall, this study showed toxic effects in offspring after PS-NP exposure during pregnancy.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ferroptosis Is Involved in Sex-Specific Small Intestinal Toxicity in the Offspring of Adult Mice Exposed to Polystyrene Nanoplastics during Pregnancy

Tang

et al. 2023

ACS Nano

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“…MPs cause morphological alternation in sperm like loss of sperm acrosome, cephalic having a small head, acephalia having no head, and tailless sperm ( 66 ). Exposure to these plastic particles at developmental stages resulted in shrank germ cells and decreased sperm density in the seminiferous tubules ( 73 ). MPs also induces irregular rearrangement of spermatid in testicular seminiferous tubules reducing spermatids’ number ( 67 ).…”

Section: Effect Of Mps Nps and Associated Chemicals On The Male Repro...mentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of the endocrine disrupting effects of micro and nano plastic and their associated chemicals in mammals

et al. 2023

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Over the years, the vaste expansion of plastic manufacturing has dramatically increased the environmental impact of microplastics [MPs] and nanoplastics [NPs], making them a threat to marine and terrestrial biota because they contain endocrine disrupting chemicals [EDCs] and other harmful compounds. MPs and NPs have deleteriouse impacts on mammalian endocrine components such as hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, testes, and ovaries. MPs and NPs absorb and act as a transport medium for harmful chemicals such as bisphenols, phthalates, polybrominated diphenyl ether, polychlorinated biphenyl ether, organotin, perfluorinated compounds, dioxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organic contaminants, and heavy metals, which are commonly used as additives in plastic production. As the EDCs are not covalently bonded to plastics, they can easily leach into milk, water, and other liquids affecting the endocrine system of mammals upon exposure. The toxicity induced by MPs and NPs is size-dependent, as smaller particles have better absorption capacity and larger surface area, releasing more EDC and toxic chemicals. Various EDCs contained or carried by MPs and NPs share structural similarities with specific hormone receptors; hence they interfere with normal hormone receptors, altering the hormonal action of the endocrine glands. This review demonstrates size-dependent MPs’ bioaccumulation, distribution, and translocation with potential hazards to the endocrine gland. We reviewed that MPs and NPs disrupt hypothalamic-pituitary axes, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid/adrenal/testicular/ovarian axis leading to oxidative stress, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, cytotoxicity, developmental abnormalities, decreased sperm quality, and immunotoxicity. The direct consequences of MPs and NPs on the thyroid, testis, and ovaries are documented. Still, studies need to be carried out to identify the direct effects of MPs and NPs on the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal glands.

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“…PS-MPs at sizes of 0.5, 4, and 10 µm were able to enter the three testicular cell types in vitro ( H. Jin et al, 2021 ). Prenatal polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) exposure in pregnant mice reduced testicular weight in offspring, destroyed reproductive epithelium, and reduced sperm count ( T. Huang et al., 2022 ).…”

Section: Mps Can Enter the Human Body Through The Food Chain And Affe...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Jin et al, 2021). Prenatal polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) exposure in pregnant mice reduced testicular weight in offspring, destroyed reproductive epithelium, and reduced sperm count (T. Huang et al, 2022).…”

Section: Mps Can Enter the Human Body Through The Food Chain And Affe...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Microplastics May Be a Significant Cause of Male Infertility

Zhang

Chen²,

et al. 2022

Am J Mens Health

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Due to the problematic degradation properties of plastics, the decomposition of plastic results in the formation of numerous microplastics (MPs), less than 5 mm in diameter. These MPs enter the soil and the ocean, eventually passing through the air, water, or food chain back to the human body and harming human health. In the last 80 years, male semen analysis parameters have shown a significant decline for unknown reasons, speculated to be caused by pollutants. No studies examined the relationship between human MP exposure and male infertility. In this article, we reviewed the relevant animal experimental research literature in recent years and calculated that the minimum human equivalent dose of MPs leading to abnormal male semen quality is 0.016 mg/kg/d. The literature comparison found that MP exposure in Japan and South Korea was close to this value. These results suggest that MPs can affect male semen quality and that MPs may significantly impact male fertility.

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Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics during gestation and lactation induces hepatic and testicular toxicity in male mouse offspring

Cited by 84 publications

References 67 publications

Ferroptosis Is Involved in Sex-Specific Small Intestinal Toxicity in the Offspring of Adult Mice Exposed to Polystyrene Nanoplastics during Pregnancy

Ferroptosis Is Involved in Sex-Specific Small Intestinal Toxicity in the Offspring of Adult Mice Exposed to Polystyrene Nanoplastics during Pregnancy

A review of the endocrine disrupting effects of micro and nano plastic and their associated chemicals in mammals

Microplastics May Be a Significant Cause of Male Infertility

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