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Polystyrene nanoplastics aggravate reproductive system damage in obese male mice by perturbation of the testis redox homeostasis
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Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics worsened reproductive damage in male mice already fed a high-fat diet, reducing sperm quality and testosterone production beyond what obesity alone caused. The nanoplastics disrupted the protective blood-testis barrier and increased oxidative stress in reproductive tissues. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure combined with obesity may create compounding risks to male fertility.
The potential impact of the combination of a high-fat diet (HFD) and polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) on fertility cannot be ignored, especially when the fertility rate is declining. However, it has not attracted considerable attention. In this study, an obese mouse model was established using an HFD, and the reproductive function of male mice was evaluated after intragastric administration of 100 μL of a 10 mg/mL PS-NP suspension for 4 weeks. By determining the morphology and vitality of sperm and related indicators of testosterone production, it was found that PS-NPs aggravated the destruction of sperm mitochondrial structure, decrease sperm activity, and testosterone production in HFD-fed mice. To comprehensively analyze the injury mechanism, the integrity of the blood testicular barrier (BTB) and the function of Leydig and Sertoli cells were further analyzed. It was found that PS-NPs could destroy BTB, promote the degeneration of Leydig cells, reduce the number of Sertoli cells, and decrease lactate secretion in HFD-fed mice. PS-NPs further interfered with redox homeostasis in the testicular tissues of HFD-fed mice. This study found that PS-NPs could aggravate the damage to the reproductive system of obese male mice by further perturbing its redox homeostasis and revealed the potential health risk of PS-NPs exposure under an HFD.
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Oral exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics reduced male fertility and even caused male infertility by inducing testicular and sperm toxicities in mice
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Researchers fed male mice polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes (25, 50, and 100 nm) for 56 days and found that all sizes reduced fertility and some caused complete infertility. The nanoplastics accumulated in the testes, causing oxidative stress, cell death, and inflammation that damaged sperm and reproductive tissue. This study raises concerns that human exposure to nanoplastics through food and water could contribute to declining male fertility.
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In a mouse study, polystyrene nanoplastics combined with dibutyl phthalate (a common plasticizer chemical) caused significantly worse damage to the blood-testis barrier than either substance alone. The nanoplastics carried the phthalate into the reproductive system, where the combination reduced sperm quality, impaired sperm development, and damaged the protective barrier around the testes. This research shows how nanoplastics can make other common plastic chemicals more dangerous to male fertility.
Combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and lipopolysaccharide on testosterone biosynthesis and inflammation in mouse testis
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Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics combined with bacterial toxins (LPS) caused worse damage to mouse testicles than either substance alone, reducing sperm count, lowering testosterone levels, and increasing inflammation. Since microplastics in the environment can carry bacteria and their toxins, this combination exposure is realistic. The findings suggest that nanoplastic pollution could amplify the reproductive harm caused by bacterial infections in males.
Polystyrene microplastics cause reproductive toxicity in male mice
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Male mice exposed to polystyrene microplastics for six weeks showed significant reproductive damage, including reduced sperm count and motility, lower testosterone levels, and visible tissue damage in the testes. The microplastics caused oxidative stress and triggered cell death pathways in the reproductive tissue. These findings add to growing evidence that microplastic exposure could contribute to declining male fertility.
Low-dose polystyrene microplastics exposure impairs fertility in male mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity by affecting prostate function
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Male mice exposed to low doses of microplastics had lower sperm quality and fewer offspring, and these effects were significantly worse when combined with a high-fat diet. The combination triggered inflammation and cell death in the prostate gland, reducing key nutrients in seminal fluid needed for sperm health. This suggests that microplastic exposure may be an overlooked factor in declining male fertility, especially for those with metabolic conditions like obesity.
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