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Chronic Polystyrene Microplastic Exposure Reduces Testosterone Levels in Mice through Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress and BAX/BCL2-Mediated Apoptosis
Summary
This mouse study found that oral exposure to polystyrene microplastics for four weeks significantly lowered testosterone levels by damaging the cells in the testes that produce it. The microplastics caused mitochondrial damage, oxidative stress, and triggered cell death in these testosterone-producing cells. These findings suggest that chronic microplastic exposure could contribute to declining male hormone levels and fertility issues.
Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a major environmental issue. They have been found to cause significant reproductive toxicity and lower testosterone levels in adult males, though the exact mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, C57bl/6 mice were orally exposed to saline or varying doses (0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/day) of 5 μm polystyrene MPs (PS-MPs) for 4 weeks, and TM3 mouse Leydig cells were treated with different concentrations of PS-MPs. Our results found that exposure to PS-MPs significantly reduced testosterone levels and impaired the synthesis function of testicular steroids. In vitro, PS-MPs reduced steroid synthesis in Leydig cells. Treatment with PS-MPs significantly increased the apoptosis rate and BAX/BCL2 ratio in Leydig cells. Additionally, GSH-px and SOD activities decreased, while MDA levels increased, along with a rise in mitochondrial ROS. In conclusion, chronic PS-MP exposure reduced testosterone levels in mice through mitochondrial oxidative stress and BAX/BCL2-mediated apoptosis. This study offers new insights into the health risks posed by MPs.