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Polylactic Acid Micro/Nanoplastic Exposure Induces Male Reproductive Toxicity by Disrupting Spermatogenesis and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Mice
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Even so-called "eco-friendly" biodegradable plastic (polylactic acid, or PLA) was found to cause reproductive harm in male mice. After breaking down in the digestive system, tiny PLA nanoparticles crossed into the testes and damaged sperm quality, mitochondria (the energy producers in cells), and hormone levels. This challenges the assumption that biodegradable plastics are safe and highlights potential risks to male fertility.
Although considered an "eco-friendly" biodegradable plastic, polylactic acid (PLA) microplastic (PLA-MP) poses a growing concern for human health, yet its effects on male reproductive function remain underexplored. This study investigated the reproductive toxicity of PLA in male mice and its potential mechanisms. To this end, our in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that after degradation in the digestive system, a significant number of PLA-MP-derived nanoparticles could penetrate the blood-testis barrier (BTB) and localize within the spermatogenic microenvironment. Mice exposed to PLA-MPs for a long time exhibited significant reproductive toxicity, evidenced by decreased sperm concentration and motility, increased sperm deformity rates, and disrupted sex hormone levels. Further analysis revealed that PLA impaired BTB, induced mitochondrial dysfunction in the testes, and triggered oxidative stress through excessive ROS production from mitochondria, leading to further testicular damage. Notably, PLA nanoplastics internalized in the mitochondrial sheath and disrupted the mitochondrial structure of sperm, causing dose-dependent impairments in mitochondrial function. Transcriptome analyses further indicated that PLA-MPs disrupted spermatogenesis by inhibiting the expression of key mRNA involved in this process. Collectively, our findings highlight the reproductive toxic effect of biodegradable PLA by damaging BTB and impairing mitochondrial function, which provides insights into the toxicological implications of biodegradable microplastics for mammalian fertility.
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Comment on “Polylactic Acid Micro/Nanoplastic Exposure Induces Male Reproductive Toxicity by Disrupting Spermatogenesis and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Mice”
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A recent mouse study found that tiny plastic particles from polylactic acid (PLA), a "biodegradable" plastic used in things like food packaging and medical devices, can travel through the digestive system, enter the reproductive organs, and damage sperm production by harming the energy-producing parts of cells (mitochondria). This commentary points out an important wrinkle: PLA doesn't just sit in the body as plastic, it can break down into lactic acid, a substance the body already uses for energy, so some of the observed effects might be tied to how the body processes these breakdown products rather than the plastic particles alone. The takeaway for
Polylactic acid microplastic exposure induced male reproductive toxicity and decreased testosterone levels by accelerating Leydig cell senescence
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Researchers found that polylactic acid microplastics, often marketed as biodegradable and eco-friendly, caused reproductive harm in male mice by accelerating the aging of testosterone-producing cells. Even at relatively low doses, the microplastics reduced testosterone levels and disrupted the cellular pathways responsible for hormone production. The study suggests that so-called biodegradable plastics may not be as safe as commonly assumed and warrant further investigation for reproductive health effects.
Swimming in Plastamination: Polylactic Acid (PLA) Nanoplastics Affect Bull Sperm Functions
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Even "eco-friendly" plastics may not be as harmless as they sound: researchers found that nanoplastics from polylactic acid (PLA), a popular biodegradable plastic, can get inside bull sperm cells and settle into their mitochondria (the cell's energy source), slightly disrupting sperm movement and energy production. While the effects on sperm were modest even at high doses, this study is a reminder that as we swap traditional plastics for "biodegradable" alternatives, we still need to check whether they carry similar risks to reproductive health, since bull sperm is often used as a model for understanding human fertility.
Swimming in Plastamination: Poly-lactic Acid Nanoplastics and Sperm Functions
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This conference paper examines the effects of PLA nanoplastics on sperm function, finding that exposure impairs motility, membrane integrity, and mitochondrial activity in marine invertebrate and mammalian sperm models, identifying reproductive toxicity as a key concern for biodegradable plastic contamination.
Polylactic acid nanoplastics induced pyroptosis in mice testes by activating TRPM2 through mitochondrial damage
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Mice given polylactic acid (biodegradable plastic) nanoparticles daily for four weeks showed testes damage, reduced sperm production and lower hormone levels. The nanoparticles triggered oxidative stress, damaged cell structures called mitochondria, disrupted calcium levels, and caused a form of inflammatory cell death in testicular cells, contributing to reproductive harm in the mice.
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