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Lactational exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics induces oxidative stress, testicular histological alterations, and impaired sperm quality in rat offspring
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In rats, mothers exposed to nanoplastics during breastfeeding passed on effects that damaged their male offspring's developing testicles, lowering sperm count, motility, and quality while disrupting reproductive hormones. Though this is animal research, it raises concerns that nanoplastics in breast milk could harm reproductive development in human infants, an area that needs more study.
The widespread presence of nanoplastics in the environment has raised concerns regarding their potential adverse effects on reproductive health, particularly during the early developmental stages. Among these contaminants, polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) can cross biological barriers and accumulate in tissues; however, the reproductive consequences of lactational exposure remain insufficiently understood. This study investigated the effects of maternal exposure to PSNPs during lactation on testicular development, oxidative stress, spermatogenesis, and sperm quality in male rat offspring on postnatal days (PD) 30 and 60. Lactating Sprague Dawley rats were orally administered PSNPs at doses of 0.1, 1, or 10 mg/kg/day from postnatal days 1 to 21. Male offspring were evaluated on PD30 and PD60. Testicular morphometry, histopathological alterations, oxidative stress biomarkers, reproductive hormone levels, sperm characteristics, and immunohistochemical expression of p53 and BCL-2 were also assessed. Histopathological examination revealed degeneration of seminiferous tubules, reduction in germinal epithelium height, and impaired spermatogenic organization, particularly at higher exposure doses. Significant alterations in oxidative stress biomarkers were observed, characterized by an increased total oxidant status and oxidative stress index, accompanied by a reduced antioxidant capacity. Sperm analysis revealed reductions in sperm count, motility, and viability, along with increased morphological abnormalities in the exposed groups. Hormonal evaluation indicated disturbances in serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. Immunohistochemical analyses further demonstrated increased p53 expression and reduced BCL-2 immunoreactivity, suggesting the activation of apoptosis-related pathways. Lactational exposure to PSNPs adversely affects testicular development and sperm quality in male offspring, potentially through oxidative stress and apoptosis-related mechanisms. These findings suggest that early life exposure to nanoplastics during critical developmental periods may contribute to reproductive dysfunction, highlighting the need for further investigation into the long-term biological effects of environmental nanoplastic exposure.
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Researchers exposed pregnant and nursing mice to polystyrene nanoplastics and studied the effects on their male offspring. The offspring showed reduced body weight, liver damage with inflammation and disrupted sugar metabolism, and testicular harm including decreased sperm counts. The findings suggest that nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy and breastfeeding can cause significant organ damage in the next generation.
Lactational exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics is associated with dose-related ovarian alterations in rat offspring
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In a rat study, baby females exposed to nanoplastics through their mother's milk showed smaller ovaries, fewer developing egg follicles, hormone imbalances, and more cell damage as they grew up—and the effects got worse with higher doses. This suggests that the period of breastfeeding may be a particularly vulnerable time for nanoplastic exposure to affect reproductive development, raising concerns about how these tiny plastic particles—already found in breast milk—might impact fertility later in life. More research is needed to confirm whether these effects occur in humans.
Direct and intergenerational effects in reproductive parameters of adult male Wistar rats and their offspring after subchronic exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics
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Researchers exposed adult male Wistar rats to 500 nm polystyrene nanoplastics and assessed effects on reproductive parameters and intergenerational outcomes in offspring. PS-NP exposure reduced sperm quality and testosterone levels in exposed males, and some reproductive effects were observed in the next generation, suggesting potential intergenerational reproductive toxicity.
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This study found that oral exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics disrupted the hormone signaling pathway between the brain and testes in male rats, leading to reproductive damage. The nanoplastics interfered with the hormones that regulate sperm production and testicular function. These findings add to growing evidence that nanoplastic exposure through food and water could be a contributing factor to declining male fertility.
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