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Low-dose exposure to microplastics retards meiotic maturation via HDAC3 insufficiency
Summary
Researchers found that even low-dose exposure to polystyrene microplastics disrupted egg cell maturation in female mice by interfering with a key enzyme called HDAC3. The microplastics caused metabolic overactivation and abnormal modifications to chromosomal proteins in the egg cells, preventing them from maturing properly. Importantly, the study showed that restoring HDAC3 levels could rescue the maturation defects, pointing to a potential target for addressing microplastic-related fertility issues.
Microplastics (MPs) are considered one of the main causes of male and female infertility. However, the reproductive toxicity and its related mechanisms are currently understood primarily through animal models with acute exposure to MPs. In this study, we demonstrate that low-dose exposure to polystyrene microplastics (PSMPs) leads to severely abnormal reproduction in females, manifested by oocyte meiotic maturation defect. Mechanistically, PSMPs exposure induce the overactivation of cell metabolism pathways, insufficient HDACs, and H4K16 hyperacetylation in oocytes both in vivo and in vitro. When an HDAC3 inhibitor is added, the oocyte maturation defect, overactivation of cell metabolism pathways, and H4K16 hyperacetylation are recapitulated. Conversely, the overexpression of HDAC3 can rescue the defects in meiotic maturation induced by PSMPs. Our observations suggest a direct link between the maturation defects caused by PSMPs and HDAC3 insufficiency. Thus, we propose potential treatments to address the meiotic maturation defect of oocytes in women highly exposed to MPs by activating or supplying HDAC3.