Polylactic acid microparticles in the range of μg/L reduce reproductive capacity by affecting the gonad development and the germline apoptosis in Caenorhabditis elegans

Polylactic acid (PLA) accounts for approximately 45% of the global market of biodegradable plastics. Using Caenorhabditis elegans as an animal model, we examined the effect of long-term exposure to PLA microplastic (MP) on reproductive capacity and the underlying mechanism. Brood size, number of fertilized eggs in uterus, and number of hatched eggs were significantly reduced by exposure to 10 and 100 μg/L PLA MP. Number of mitotic cells per gonad, area of gonad arm, and length of gonad arm were further significantly decreased by exposure to 10 and 100 μg/L PLA MP. In addition, exposure to 10 and 100 μg/L PLA MP enhanced germline apoptosis in the gonad. Accompanied with the enhancement in germline apoptosis, exposure to 10 and 100 μg/L PLA MP decreased expression of ced-9 and increased expressions of ced-3, ced-4, and egl-1. Moreover, the induction of germline apoptosis in PLA MP exposed nematodes was suppressed by RNAi of ced-3, ced-4, and egl-1, and strengthened by RNAi of ced-9. Meanwhile, we did not detect the obvious effect of leachate of 10 and 100 μg/L PLA MPs on reproductive capacity, gonad development, germline apoptosis, and expression of apoptosis related genes. Therefore, exposure to 10 and 100 μg/L PLA MPs potentially reduces the reproductive capacity by influencing the gonad development and enhancing the germline apoptosis in nematodes.