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Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity of Microplastics in Albino Rats: Mechanisms and Implications
Summary
This review pulls together animal studies showing that microplastics—tiny plastic particles found throughout our environment—can damage reproductive organs in rats, causing hormone imbalances, cell damage, and fertility problems in both males and females. Since rats are commonly used to predict human health effects, these findings raise real concerns about what long-term microplastic exposure could mean for human fertility and future generations, though more research is needed to confirm how directly this applies to people.
Due to their extensive distribution in both terrestrial and aquatic environments and their propensity to disrupt biological processes, microplastics have emerged as a major global problem. The influence of microplastics exposure on the reproductive and developmental systems of albino rats (Rattus norvegicus), a mammalian model for toxicological assessment, is the main emphasis of this review. Recent experimental research has shown that long-term consumption or inhalation of microplastics causes structural, hormonal, and physiological abnormalities in reproductive organs. Testicular degeneration, abnormal spermatogenesis, ovarian dysfunction, hormonal imbalance, and oxidative stress-induced cellular damage are among the impacts that have been noted. By releasing additives and adsorbed contaminants, microplastics may function as endocrine disruptors that impact reproductive signalling pathways. Transgenerational toxicity and delayed sexual maturation have also been connected to developmental exposure. This review highlights research needs on microplastic bioaccumulation, molecular pathways, and dose-dependent responses while summarizing recent discoveries and discussing underlying mechanisms such oxidative stress, inflammation, and hormone disruption. The results highlight the critical need for sophisticated research and regulatory actions to evaluate the long-term reproductive consequences of microplastic contamination in mammals and draw conclusions about human health.