We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Gestational exposure to micro- and nanoplastics leads to poor pregnancy outcomes by impairing placental trophoblast syncytialization
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that exposing pregnant mice to micro- and nanoplastics led to increased embryo loss, reduced embryonic weight, and smaller placentas. The plastic particles impaired a critical process called syncytialization, where placental cells fuse together to form a functional barrier, by activating a stress-response signaling pathway. The study suggests that prenatal microplastic exposure could disrupt placental development and contribute to poor pregnancy outcomes.
The omnipresent micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs), emerging environmental contaminants, have caused a widespread concern because of their potential threats to public health. Increasing evidence has indicated that MNPs were deeply involved in poor pregnancy outcomes, but the detailed mechanism remains obscure. In this research, we firstly identified that maternal exposure to MNPs during gestation increased both the number and rate of embryo resorption, while reducing embryonic weight, placental diameter and placental weight. This was accompanied by disrupted progesterone and estradiol synthesis in MNPs-treated mouse placentas. In addition, our data suggested that MNPs exposure disturbed placental development, as evidenced by the reduction of the total area of placenta, area of spongiotrophoblast layer and area of labyrinth layer. Subsequently, in vivo and in vitro experiments further indicated that MNPs compromised syncytialization process and decreased the expression of syncytialization markers in mouse placentas and human placental trophoblasts. Further investigation indicated that PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 signaling was activated in MNPs-treated mouse placentas and human placental trophoblasts. More importantly, inhibition of PERK partially restored syncytialization insufficiency caused by MNPs administration. On the whole, our results suggested that gestational exposure to MNPs disturbed placental trophoblasts syncytialization possibly through activating PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 pathway, resulting in aberrant placentation and poor pregnancy outcomes.
More Papers Like This
Exposure to high dose of polystyrene nanoplastics causes trophoblast cell apoptosis and induces miscarriage
AI summary Read the abstract
Exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics triggered a cell death pathway in the placental cells (trophoblasts) that are essential for maintaining pregnancy, leading to miscarriage in mice. This finding raises concerns that nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy could harm fetal development by damaging the critical cells that connect mother and baby.
Polystyrene nanoparticles impair endometrial decidualization in early pregnant mice via oxidative stress-driven autophagy suppression and ferroptosis induction
AI summary Read the abstract
In mice, tiny plastic particles called nanoplastics disrupted the womb's ability to prepare for pregnancy by triggering cell stress that damages cells and blocks their natural cleanup process. This led to fewer successful embryo implantations, suggesting nanoplastic exposure could be a hidden risk factor for early pregnancy problems, though more research is needed to confirm this happens in humans.
Polystyrene nanoplastics impair placental function and promote embryo resorption through ROS-mediated ferroptosis-related injury.
AI summary Read the abstract
In a study on pregnant mice and human placental cells, tiny plastic particles called nanoplastics (the kind that break down from everyday plastic waste) crossed the placenta, damaged its cells, and triggered a harmful type of cell death caused by oxidative stress—ultimately leading to more pregnancy loss in the mice. While this research was done in animals and lab-grown cells rather than in humans, it raises real concerns about how the microplastics we're increasingly exposed to might affect pregnancy health, and points to specific biological pathways that future treatments or protective strategies could target.
Maternal Exposure to Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastics Causes Fetal Growth Restriction in Mice
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed pregnant mice to polystyrene micro and nanoplastics and found that exposure caused fetal growth restriction and placental abnormalities. The study observed that plastic particles accumulated in placental tissue and disrupted normal placental function. These findings raise concern that maternal exposure to plastic particles during pregnancy may interfere with fetal development.
Polystyrene microplastics disturb maternal-fetal immune balance and cause reproductive toxicity in pregnant mice
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed pregnant mice to polystyrene microplastics and found that the particles disrupted the delicate immune balance between mother and fetus. Exposure led to increased embryo loss and altered immune cell populations at the maternal-fetal interface. The study suggests that microplastic exposure during early pregnancy may pose reproductive risks by interfering with the immune tolerance mechanisms needed for successful pregnancy.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.