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Comparing the effects and mechanisms of exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics with different functional groups on the male reproductive system
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Scientists exposed male mice to polystyrene nanoparticles with different surface charges (unmodified, negatively charged, and positively charged) and found all three types damaged reproductive health by reducing sperm count, increasing sperm defects, and disrupting testicular tissue. The positively charged (amino-modified) nanoparticles were the most toxic, causing the greatest reproductive damage. This is important because as plastics age in the environment, they develop different surface charges that may make them more harmful to reproductive health than pristine plastic particles.
After aging in the environment, some nanoplastics will carry different charges and functional groups, thereby altering their toxicological effects. To evaluate the potential impact of aging of nanoplastics on the mammalian reproductive system, we exposed C57BL/6 male mice to a dose of 5 mg/kg/d polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NPs) with different functional groups (unmodified, carboxyl functionalized and amino functionalized) for 45 days for this study. The results suggest that PS-NPs with different functional groups triggered oxidative stress, a decreased in the testis index, disruption of the outer wall of the seminiferous tubules, reduction in the number of spermatogonia cells and sperm counts, and an increased in sperm malformations. We performed GO and KEGG enrichment analysis on the differentially expressed proteins, and found they were mainly enriched in protein transport, RNA splicing and mTOR signaling. We confirmed that the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway is over activated, which may lead to reduction of spermatogonia stem cells by over differentiation. Strikingly, PS-NPs with functional group modifications are more toxic than those of unmodified polystyrene, and that PS-NPs with positively charged amino modifications are the most toxic. This study provides a new understanding for correctly evaluating the toxicological effects of plastic aging, and of the mechanism responsible for the reproductive toxicity caused by nanoplastics.
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Induction of Male Reproductive Toxicity in Mice by Differentially Charged Polystyrene Microplastics
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This study exposed male mice to polystyrene microplastics carrying different surface charges (positive, negative, or neutral) and found that all types caused reproductive toxicity, including damage to sperm quality and testicular tissue. Surface charge influenced the severity and mechanism of harm, with positively charged particles showing the strongest effects, suggesting that the chemical surface properties of microplastics — not just particle size — determine their toxicity. These findings are concerning given widespread human exposure to microplastics via food, water, and air, and the ongoing global decline in male fertility.
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Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics with different surface charges accumulate in and damage rat ovaries after oral exposure. Positively charged amino-modified microplastics accumulated most in ovarian tissue and caused the most severe effects, including hormonal disruption, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial damage. The study suggests that surface charge is a key factor determining how microplastics affect reproductive organs.
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Researchers exposed male mice to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and found that the particles accumulated in testicular tissue and entered reproductive cells. After 28 days of exposure, sperm quality and testosterone levels declined, and tissue examination revealed disorganized sperm-producing cells and inflammation. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may pose risks to male reproductive health in mammals.
The emerging risk of exposure to nano(micro)plastics on endocrine disturbance and reproductive toxicity: From a hypothetical scenario to a global public health challenge
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Researchers administered polystyrene nanoplastics orally to male rats for five weeks and found significant reductions in testosterone, LH, and FSH levels, sperm DNA damage, altered testicular gene expression, and dose-dependent histological lesions, indicating that nanoplastic exposure disrupts the hormonal axis governing male reproductive function.
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