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Polystyrene Microplastics Affect the Reproductive Performance of Male Mice and Lipid Homeostasis in Their Offspring
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Researchers found that long-term exposure to environmentally relevant doses of polystyrene microplastics over 21 weeks significantly impaired reproductive function in male mice, including decreased testicle weight and sperm quality. The study also revealed transgenerational effects, with offspring showing disrupted lipid homeostasis.
The potential health risks of microplastics (MPs) to humans and other mammals have attracted global attention. However, whether long-term exposure to environmentally relevant doses of MPs could impair the reproductive functions of mammals and cause transgenerational effects on their offspring remains largely unclear. Our study revealed that long-term (i.e., 21 weeks) exposure to environmentally relevant doses of polystyrene MPs (40–100 μm) not only significantly decreased testicle relative weight but also decreased sperm quality (i.e., decreased sperm number and changed sperm phenotype), thus affecting the reproductive performance of male mice. The exposure also dysregulated lipid metabolism in their F1 offspring by altering 17 of 23 lipid classes. In particular, three lipid classes were closely related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; i.e., levels of alkylphosphatidylcholine, alkenylphosphatidylcholine, and alkenylphosphatidylethanolamine were significantly increased in the liver and plasma of F1 offspring. The lipid metabolism disruption also exhibited a dose-, gender-, and tissue-specific pattern. Our findings demonstrate for the first time the in vivo evidence of the male reproductive effects of exposure to environmentally relevant doses of MPs on terrestrial mammals and transgenerational effects on their offspring.
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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.
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Scientists found that when pregnant and nursing rats were exposed to tiny plastic particles (microplastics), their male babies and grandbabies had damaged reproductive systems with lower sperm counts and reduced fertility hormones. While the grandbabies showed some ability to recover from this damage, the study suggests that microplastics in our environment could potentially harm male fertility across multiple generations. This research is concerning because humans are increasingly exposed to microplastics through food, water, and air.
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