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Sex-Specific Effects of Polystyrene Microplastic and Lead(II) Co-Exposure on the Gut Microbiome and Fecal Metabolome in C57BL/6 Mice
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Researchers exposed male and female mice to a combination of polystyrene microplastics and lead, finding that the effects on gut bacteria and metabolism differed significantly between sexes. Female mice showed greater disruption to their gut microbiome diversity, while different metabolic pathways were affected in each sex. This study is important because it suggests that microplastic health effects may differ between men and women, and that microplastics can make heavy metal exposure worse by carrying metals into the digestive system.
The wide spread of microplastics has fueled growing public health concern globally. Due to their porous structure and large surface area, microplastics can serve as carriers for other environmental pollutants, including heavy metals. Although the toxic effects of microplastics or heavy metals have been reported previously, investigations into the sex-differential health effects of combined exposure to microplastics and heavy metals are lacking. In the present study, the effects of polystyrene microplastics and lead(II) co-exposure on the gut microbiome, intestinal permeability, and fecal metabolome were examined in both male and female mice. Combined exposure of polystyrene microplastics and lead(II) increased intestinal permeability in both male and female mice. Sex-specific responses to the co-exposure were found in gut bacteria, fungi, microbial metabolic pathways, microbial genes encoding antibiotic resistance and virulence factors, as well as fecal metabolic profiles. In particular, Shannon and Simpson indices of gut bacteria were reduced by the co-exposure only in female mice. A total of 34 and 13 fecal metabolites were altered in the co-exposure group in female and male mice, respectively, among which only three metabolites were shared by both sexes. These sex-specific responses to the co-exposure need to be taken into consideration when investigating the combined toxic effects of microplastics and heavy metals on the gut microbiota.
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Effects of Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics on the Reproductive System, Intestinal Structure, and Microflora in Male and Female Mice
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Researchers exposed male and female mice to PVC microplastics to study how they affect reproductive health, intestinal tissue, and gut bacteria. The study found that PVC microplastics damaged the reproductive organs and intestinal lining in both sexes, but the specific effects differed between males and females. The findings suggest that microplastic exposure may disrupt gut health and reproductive function in sex-specific ways.
Sex-specific toxicological observations following 28-day oral gavage exposure to spherical and milled polystyrene nano- and microplastic particles in mice
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Mice fed tiny plastic particles (like those found in food and water) for a month showed different health effects depending on their sex: males developed more gallbladder inflammation, while females had changes in their gut lining and mucus production. Overall body weight and blood tests looked normal, but the plastic particles did travel into the liver and intestines in both sexes, suggesting that even short-term microplastic exposure may affect male and female bodies differently, which matters as scientists work out what these ubiquitous plastic particles mean for long-term human health.
Sex-specific effects of aged polystyrene microplastics on hepatic AMPK pathway activation and lipid droplet accumulation in MAFLD mice
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Researchers examined how aged polystyrene microplastics affect liver fat metabolism differently in male and female mice with fatty liver disease. They found that while both sexes showed increased inflammation and oxidative stress, only female mice experienced a reduction in liver fat accumulation, potentially linked to estrogen-related metabolic pathways. The study reveals important sex-specific differences in how microplastics interact with metabolic conditions, suggesting that health effects may vary between males and females.
Polyethylene microplastics differently induced gut microbiota dysbiosis and hepatic metabolism in male and female adult zebrafish
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Researchers exposed male and female adult zebrafish to polyethylene microplastics and found that females experienced more pronounced gut microbiota disruption and a greater number of differential hepatic metabolites — particularly phospholipids — compared with males, and that females also recovered more slowly after transfer to clean water.
Female zebrafish are more affected than males under polystyrene microplastics exposure
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Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics and discovered that female fish were significantly more affected than males, showing greater gut microbiota disruption and metabolic changes in the liver. The microplastics accumulated more in the gills than the gut, and female fish experienced disrupted sex hormones and reduced egg production. The study highlights that microplastic toxicity can vary substantially between sexes, with potential consequences for fish population health.
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