We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Micro- and nanoplastic exposure: male reproductive toxicity, underlying mechanisms, and research prospects
AI summary Read the abstract
This review summarizes existing research on how tiny plastic particles, which can enter the body through food, air, or skin, may harm male fertility. It describes proposed biological mechanisms, including cell damage, hormone disruption, and gut bacteria changes, linked to reduced sperm quality in studied models.
Diagnosis and treatment of male infertility present persistent clinical challenges, with etiologies spanning genetic anomalies, endocrine disturbances, genital tract infections, varicocele, lifestyle factors, and environmental exposures. Among these, exposure to environmental contaminants is increasingly recognized as a critical contributor to male reproductive impairment and declining sperm quality. Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs), as ubiquitous emerging environmental pollutants, can enter the human body via three primary routes: gastrointestinal ingestion, respiratory inhalation, and dermal contact. Upon internalization, MNPs trigger male reproductive toxicity through diverse molecular pathways, including the induction of oxidative stress, DNA damage, disruption of sex hormone secretion, energy metabolism dysfunction, gut microbiota dysbiosis, ferroptosis, and aberrant autophagy. Cumulative evidence suggests that these mechanisms may act in concert to compromise sperm quality and male fertility; furthermore, such exposure has been associated with an elevated risk of developmental abnormalities in offspring in certain experimental models. In this review, we systematically elucidate the mechanisms linking MNP exposure to the pathogenesis and progression of male infertility. We also aim to offer novel insights for the clinical diagnosis and management of male infertility, provide theoretical references for preconception care and reproductive health, and establish a scientific foundation for advancing targeted prevention and control strategies against MNP pollution.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic Exposure and Male Infertility: Mechanisms, Effects on Semen Quality and Emerging Human Evidence
AI summary Read the abstract
This review summarizes research on tiny plastic particles found in human semen and testicular tissue. In rodent studies, exposure was linked to cell damage, hormone disruption, and reduced sperm count and quality; human studies show similar associations but are too limited to prove the particles cause male infertility.
Microplastics and male reproductive toxicity: Research progress on injury pathways and regulatory mechanisms
AI summary Read the abstract
This review pulls together existing research showing that tiny plastic particles from our environment can build up in male reproductive organs, where they've been linked to lower sperm quality in humans. Studies in animals and cells suggest these plastics may sneak past the body's natural defenses in the testicles, causing cell damage, inflammation, and hormone disruption that harms sperm production. While more research is needed to confirm exactly how much risk this poses to human fertility, the findings add to growing concerns about everyday plastic exposure and reproductive health.
The Impact of Microplastics on Male Fertility
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics and nanoplastics accumulate in testicular tissue and disrupt spermatogenesis through oxidative stress, inflammation, endocrine disruption, and structural damage to reproductive cells, consistently impairing sperm quality in experimental models. With global plastic production accelerating alongside documented declines in semen quality, this review highlights microplastic exposure as a plausible environmental contributor to male infertility warranting urgent human study.
Effects of micro- and nanoplastics exposure on male semen quality and associated mechanisms: A research progress review
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic particles called micro- and nanoplastics are showing up everywhere, including inside our bodies—and this review of existing research suggests they can build up in the testes and semen, where they're linked to lower sperm count, weaker sperm movement, and abnormally shaped sperm. Scientists think these plastics may harm sperm by triggering cell stress, inflammation, and hormone disruption, though most evidence so far comes from animal and lab studies rather than large human trials. Given the ongoing global decline in male fertility, this is a good reason to reduce unnecessary plastic exposure while researchers work to confir
Microplastics and impaired male reproductive health—exploring biological pathways of harm: a narrative review
AI summary Read the abstract
This narrative review summarizes the evidence that microplastics may harm male reproductive health through oxidative stress, hormone disruption, inflammation, and direct damage to reproductive cells. While animal studies show concerning effects on sperm quality, testicular function, and fertility, human studies are still lacking. The review calls for urgent research on microplastic impacts on human male fertility and for policies to reduce microplastic exposure.
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.