P10-07 Polystyrene micro – and nanoplastics induced spermatogenesis disorder via disturbance of mitochondrial dynamics in mice

Prenatal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics caused testicular development toxicities and relative mechanisms in male offspring mice from embryo to adulthood

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Scientists exposed pregnant mice to nanoplastics (tiny plastic particles found in our environment, blood, and even placentas) and found their male offspring had slowed growth before birth, hit puberty earlier, and had reduced fertility as adults. The nanoplastics appeared to disrupt key genes and cells needed for normal testicle development and hormone production. While this is animal research, it adds to growing evidence that plastic exposure during pregnancy could affect a baby's reproductive development later in life.

Occurrence, toxicity and removal of polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics in human sperm

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Researchers detected polystyrene microplastics in human semen and showed they reduce sperm function, then demonstrated that magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles can remove nanoplastics from semen samples — offering an early glimpse into both the reproductive health threat posed by microplastics and potential mitigation strategies.

Disturbance of mitochondrial dynamics led to spermatogenesis disorder in mice exposed to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics

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Polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics caused spermatogenesis disorders in mice by disrupting mitochondrial dynamics, triggering excessive mitochondrial fission that activated both apoptosis and pyroptosis pathways in testicular tissue. Nanoplastics caused mitochondrial DNA to leak into the cytoplasm, activating the cGAS-STING inflammatory pathway — a mechanism confirmed by rescue experiments with a mitochondrial fission inhibitor.

Biochemical, Histological and Molecular Docking into the Impact of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Antioxidant Enzymes and Testicular Health in Rats

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Tiny plastic particles called nanoplastics, found widely in our environment, may harm male fertility, according to a new rat study. Rats exposed to higher doses of these plastics showed weakened antioxidant defenses and physical damage to testicular tissue, including fewer developing sperm cells. While this research was done in rats, not humans, it adds to growing concerns that the microplastics and nanoplastics we're routinely exposed to through food, water, and air could pose risks to reproductive health.

Co-exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and 3, 3’, 4, 4’, 5-pentachlorobiphenyl induces synergistic toxicity in human sperm