Reproductive toxicity of polystyrene microplastics: In vivo experimental study on testicular toxicity in mice

Hou, Baolian; Wang, Fangyi; Liu, Tao; Wang, Zhiping

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124028

Cited by 210 publications

(122 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Intraperitoneal administration of antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor SB203580 in the 1-mg/day PS-treated group attenuated the decrease in serum testosterone and spermatogenic cells, suggesting that the particles induced reproductive toxicity through oxidative damage and activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signals. Similar observations were made by Hou et al (44), who observed a reduction in viable sperm count, higher sperm deformity, and increased expression of proinflammatory factors such as nuclear factor kappa B, IL-1β, and IL-6, along with decrease in anti-inflammatory molecules in ICR mice treated orally with water containing 60 to 70 μg/day of 5-μm PS particles for 35 days. In a different study, the number of live births per dam was decreased upon treatment of ICR male and female mice with PE (~17 μm; 0.125 or 2 mg/kg) orally for 90 days (84).…”

Section: Toxicological Consequences Of Mp and Np Exposure In Rodentssupporting

confidence: 88%

Micro- and Nanoplastic-Mediated Pathophysiological Changes in Rodents, Rabbits, and Chickens: A Review

Banerjee

Shelver

2021

Journal of Food Protection

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Plastics provide tremendous societal benefits and are an indispensable part of our lives. However, fragmented plastics or those intentionally manufactured in small sizes (microplastics or nanoplastics) are of concern because they can infiltrate soils and enter the human food chain through trophic transfer. The pathophysiological impacts of micro/nanoplastics in humans are not characterized but their effects in terrestrial mammals may help elucidate their potential effects in human beings. Rodent studies have demonstrated that micro/nanoplastics can breach the intestinal barrier, accumulate in various organs, cause gut dysbosis, decrease mucus secretion, induce metabolic alterations, and cause neurotoxicity, amongst other pathophysiologic effects. Larger mammals such as rabbits can also absorb microplastics orally. In farm animals such as chicken, microplastics have been detected in the gut, thereby raising food safety concerns. This review mostly focuses on studies conducted to assess effects of micro/nanoplastic exposure through food and water in terrestrial mammals and farm animals including rodents, rabbit and chicken, identifies main knowledge gaps, and provides recommendations for further research to understand food-borne MP/NP toxicity in humans.

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Section: Toxicological Consequences Of Mp and Np Exposure In Rodentssupporting

confidence: 88%

Micro- and Nanoplastic-Mediated Pathophysiological Changes in Rodents, Rabbits, and Chickens: A Review

Banerjee

Shelver

2021

Journal of Food Protection

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“…In the kidney, the increase of creatinine level and tubular injury were observed in C57BL/6 mice after treatment of polystyrene MP (2 μm) [ 16 ]. In reproductive organs, polystyrene MP (5 μm) induce a significant reproductive toxicity including the decrease of sperm survival rate and testis weight, disorderly arrangement of spermatid cells in the testicular seminiferous tubules, and sperm denegation in the testis tubules of ICR mice [ 56 ]. Also, a similar reproductive toxicity such as apoptosis of granulosa cells and ovary fibrosis were observed in ovary of Wistar rats treated with polystyrene MP (0.5 μm) [ 57 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel Characterization of Constipation Phenotypes in ICR Mice Orally Administrated with Polystyrene Microplastics

Choi

Park

Kim

et al. 2021

IJMS

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Indirect evidence has determined the possibility that microplastics (MP) induce constipation, although direct scientific proof for constipation induction in animals remains unclear. To investigate whether oral administration of polystyrene (PS)-MP causes constipation, an alteration in the constipation parameters and mechanisms was analyzed in ICR mice, treated with 0.5 μm PS-MP for 2 weeks. Significant alterations in water consumption, stool weight, stool water contents, and stool morphology were detected in MP treated ICR mice, as compared to Vehicle treated group. Also, the gastrointestinal (GI) motility and intestinal length were decreased, while the histopathological structure and cytological structure of the mid colon were remarkably altered in treated mice. Mice exposed to MP also showed a significant decrease in the GI hormone concentration, muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) expression, and their downstream signaling pathway. Subsequent to MP treatment, concentrations of chloride ion and expressions of its channel (CFTR and CIC-2) were decreased, whereas expressions of aquaporin (AQP)3 and 8 for water transportation were downregulated by activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway. These results are the first to suggest that oral administration of PS-MP induces chronic constipation through the dysregulation of GI motility, mucin secretion, and chloride ion and water transportation in the mid colon.

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“…Reproductive toxicity of MPs has been found in aquatic organisms, such as Daphnia, Hydra attenuate [ 25 ], medaka fish [ 26 ], and oyster [ 27 ]. A few researchers demonstrated that MPs induced decreased sperm quality, disordered hormone levels, and oxidative stress in the testis following acute and short-term exposure [ 28 – 30 ]. However, the toxic effect of MPs chronic exposure on the reproductive system of mammals remains unclear.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic exposure to polystyrene microplastics induced male reproductive toxicity and decreased testosterone levels via the LH-mediated LHR/cAMP/PKA/StAR pathway

et al. 2022

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Background Microplastics (MPs), which are smaller in size and difficult to degrade, can be easily ingested by marine life and enter mammals through the food chain. Our previous study demonstrated that following acute exposure to MPs, the serum testosterone content reduced and sperm quality declined, resulting in male reproductive dysfunction in mice. However, the toxic effect of long-term exposure to MPs at environmental exposure levels on the reproductive system of mammals remains unclear. Results In vivo, mice were given drinking water containing 100 μg/L and 1000 μg/L polystyrene MPs (PS-MPs) with particle sizes of 0.5 μm, 4 μm, and 10 μm for 180 consecutive days. We observed alterations in testicular morphology and reductions in testosterone, LH and FSH contents in serum. In addition, the viability of sperm was declined and the rate of sperm abnormality was increased following exposure to PS-MPs. The expression of steroidogenic enzymes and StAR was downregulated in testis tissues. In vitro, we used primary Leydig cells to explore the underlying mechanism of the decrease in testosterone induced by PS-MPs. First, we discovered that PS-MPs attached to and became internalized by Leydig cells. And then we found that the contents of testosterone in the supernatant declined. Meanwhile, LHR, steroidogenic enzymes and StAR were downregulated with concentration-dependent on PS-MPs. We also confirmed that PS-MPs decreased StAR expression by inhibiting activation of the AC/cAMP/PKA pathway. Moreover, the overexpression of LHR alleviated the reduction in StAR and steroidogenic enzymes levels, and finally alleviated the reduction in testosterone induced by PS-MPs. Conclusions PS-MPs exposure resulted in alterations in testicular histology, abnormal spermatogenesis, and interference of serum hormone secretion in mice. PS-MPs induced a reduction in testosterone level through downregulation of the LH-mediated LHR/cAMP/PKA/StAR pathway. In summary, our study showed that chronic exposure to PS-MPs resulted in toxicity of male reproduction under environmental exposure levels, and these potential risks may ring alarm bells of public health. Graphical abstract

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Reproductive toxicity of polystyrene microplastics: In vivo experimental study on testicular toxicity in mice

Cited by 210 publications

References 38 publications

Micro- and Nanoplastic-Mediated Pathophysiological Changes in Rodents, Rabbits, and Chickens: A Review

Micro- and Nanoplastic-Mediated Pathophysiological Changes in Rodents, Rabbits, and Chickens: A Review

Novel Characterization of Constipation Phenotypes in ICR Mice Orally Administrated with Polystyrene Microplastics

Chronic exposure to polystyrene microplastics induced male reproductive toxicity and decreased testosterone levels via the LH-mediated LHR/cAMP/PKA/StAR pathway

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