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PS-MPs or their co-exposure with cadmium impair male reproductive function through the miR-199a-5p/HIF-1α-mediated ferroptosis pathway
Summary
Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics, especially when combined with cadmium, caused significant reproductive damage in male mice through a cell death pathway called ferroptosis. Smaller microplastic particles were more toxic than larger ones, and the combination of microplastics with cadmium amplified the harm beyond what either caused alone. The study identifies a specific molecular mechanism by which microplastics and heavy metals together may threaten male reproductive health.
Microplastics (MPs) and cadmium (Cd) exist extensively in ambient environments and probably influence negatively on human health. However, the potential reproductive toxicity of MPs or MPs + Cd remains unknown. This study was aimed to observe the reproductive changes of male mice treated orally for 35 days with PS-MPs (100 mg/kg), CdCl2 (5 mg/kg) and PS-MPs plus CdCl2 mixture. We found that subchronic exposure to PS-MPs damaged mouse testicular tissue structure, reduced sperm quality and testosterone levels. Moreover, the reproductive toxicity in 0.1 μm group was stronger than 1 μm group, and mixture group was more severe than single particle size ones. Meanwhile, co-exposure of PS-MPs and Cd exacerbated reproductive injury in male mice, with an ascending toxicity of Cd, 1 μm + Cd, 0.1 μm + Cd, and 0.1+1 μm + Cd. In addition, we discovered that the testicular damage induced by PS-MPs or PS-MPs + Cd was associated with interfering the miR-199a-5p/HIF-1α/ferroptosis pathway. Promisingly, these findings will shed new light on how PS-MPs and PS-MPs + Cd damage male reproductive function.