Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induced female reproductive toxicity in mice

Researchers exposed female mice to polystyrene microplastics for 35 days and found the particles accumulated in multiple organs including the ovaries, where they caused inflammation and oxidative stress. The microplastics reduced egg quality by lowering protective antioxidants, disrupting mitochondrial function, and altering calcium levels in the cells. This study provides evidence that microplastic exposure could harm female fertility by directly damaging the ovaries and the eggs they produce.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 403 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on the female reproductive system in mice: Implications for ovarian function and follicular development

Researchers exposed female mice to polystyrene nanoplastics orally for 29 days and examined the effects on their reproductive systems. They found that nanoplastic exposure disrupted estrous cycles, impaired follicle development, and altered hormone levels in a dose-dependent manner. The study suggests that nanoplastics, due to their extremely small size, may cross biological barriers and accumulate in reproductive tissues, raising concerns about potential effects on fertility.

2025 Reproductive Toxicology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics induce apoptosis, autophagy, and steroidogenesis disruption in granulosa cells to reduce oocyte quality and fertility by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway in female mice

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics (tiny plastic particles under 1 micrometer) impair egg cell quality in female mice by damaging the ovarian support cells that help eggs mature, triggering cell death and disrupting hormone production. These findings raise important questions about the potential reproductive risks of nanoplastic exposure in women.

2024 Journal of Nanobiotechnology 51 citations
Article Tier 2

The ovarian-related effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on human ovarian granulosa cells and female mice

This study tested the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on both human ovarian cells in the lab and on female mice. The nanoplastics accumulated in ovarian tissue, caused cell death, disrupted hormone levels, and reduced egg quality and fertility in mice. These findings suggest that nanoplastic exposure could threaten female reproductive health by damaging the ovaries.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 90 citations
Article Tier 2

Intergenerational and transgenerational reproductive toxicity of polystyrene microplastics in female mice

Female mice were exposed to polystyrene microplastics during lactation and researchers tracked reproductive outcomes in both exposed mothers and their offspring through multiple generations, finding that even at doses comparable to human infant bottle-feeding exposure, microplastics induced ovarian damage and reduced fertility that persisted across generations.

2025 Global Reproductive Health
Article Tier 2

Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics during gestation and lactation caused fertility decline in female mouse offspring

When pregnant mice were exposed to nanoplastics during pregnancy and nursing, their female offspring had significantly reduced fertility as adults. The nanoplastics caused premature activation of egg cells in the ovaries and damaged crucial connections between eggs and their supporting cells. This raises concerns that a mother's exposure to nanoplastics could have lasting effects on her daughters' ability to have children.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity of polystyrene nanoparticles for mouse ovary and cultured human granulosa cells

Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene nanoparticles on female reproductive health using both mouse ovaries and human granulosa cell cultures. They found that nanoparticle exposure damaged ovarian tissue, reduced egg quality, and triggered cell death through oxidative stress and inflammation pathways. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure may pose risks to female fertility, though more research is needed to confirm effects at real-world exposure levels.

2022 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 82 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparing the effects of polystyrene microplastics exposure on reproduction and fertility in male and female mice

Researchers exposed both male and female mice to polystyrene microplastics for 30 to 44 days and found that the particles accumulated more in ovaries than testes, causing oxidative stress and reproductive damage in both sexes. Male mice had fewer viable sperm and more deformed sperm, while female mice had smaller ovaries with fewer eggs, and both sexes showed altered hormone levels and reduced fertility. This study suggests that microplastic exposure could contribute to declining fertility in both men and women.

2021 Toxicology 278 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics cause reproductive toxicity in male mice

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.

2024 Food and Chemical Toxicology 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Examining the Relationship Between Polystyrene Microplastics and Male Fertility: Insights From an In Vivo Study and In Vitro Sertoli Cell Culture

This study found that polystyrene microplastics caused reproductive damage in male mice, disrupting the cells that support sperm development (Sertoli cells). The microplastics interfered with normal reproductive function in both live mice and cell cultures. These findings add to growing evidence that microplastic exposure could contribute to declining male fertility, a trend already observed in humans worldwide.

2024 Journal of Korean Medical Science 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Reproductive toxicity of polystyrene microplastics: In vivo experimental study on testicular toxicity in mice

Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene microplastics and examined the effects on male reproductive function. They found that microplastic exposure significantly reduced viable sperm count, increased sperm abnormalities, and caused structural damage to testicular tissue, suggesting that microplastics may pose risks to male fertility.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 437 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induce male reproductive toxicity in mice by activating spermatogonium mitochondrial oxidative stress and apoptosis

A mouse study found that polystyrene microplastics significantly reduced sperm count and motility while increasing sperm deformities. The damage was caused by oxidative stress in the energy-producing mitochondria of sperm-forming cells, which triggered cell death -- raising concerns about microplastics' potential impact on male fertility.

2024 Chemico-Biological Interactions 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastics in human follicular fluid and assessment of their potential impact on mouse oocyte maturation in vitro

Scientists found microplastics in human follicular fluid, the liquid surrounding eggs in the ovaries, after analyzing samples from 19 women. When they tested how these particles affect egg development in mice, they found that certain types of microplastics reduced the ability of eggs to mature properly, raising concerns about potential effects on fertility.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics lead to pyroptosis and apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells via NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway in rats

In a 90-day study, female rats exposed to polystyrene microplastics had fewer healthy ovarian follicles, increased oxidative damage, and elevated inflammation in their ovaries. The microplastics triggered a type of inflammatory cell death called pyroptosis in the cells surrounding eggs, along with increased programmed cell death. These findings suggest that microplastic exposure could harm female fertility by damaging the ovaries and the cells needed for healthy egg development.

2021 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 339 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics Compromise Ovarian Reserve Function and Endometrial Decidualization in Early Pregnant Mice

Female mice exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics for 90 days before pregnancy had fewer successful pregnancies, smaller pups, and damaged ovaries with reduced egg counts. The nanoplastics disrupted key reproductive hormones and interfered with the uterine process needed for embryo implantation. This study raises concerns that nanoplastic exposure through food and water could harm female fertility and pregnancy outcomes in humans.

2025 Journal of Applied Toxicology 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics impaired decidualization in mice via oxidative stress and inflammation and disrupted the reproductive function of their female offspring

Mouse experiments found that polystyrene microplastics impaired uterine decidualization and embryo implantation via oxidative stress and inflammation, and that maternal PS-MP exposure also disrupted the reproductive function of female offspring.

2025 Journal of Environmental Sciences
Article Tier 2

Microplastics cause reproductive toxicity in male mice through inducing apoptosis of spermatogenic cells via p53 signaling

In a mouse study, polystyrene micro and nanoplastics taken orally for 60 days caused damage to sperm-producing cells in the testes by triggering a cell-death pathway called p53. Both larger microplastics and smaller nanoplastics led to tissue damage and increased cell death in reproductive organs. This research suggests that microplastic exposure could be a meaningful risk factor for male reproductive health.

2023 Food and Chemical Toxicology 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to microplastics leads to a defective ovarian function and change in cytoskeleton protein expression in rat

Researchers exposed female rats to polystyrene microplastics over multiple reproductive cycles and found, for the first time, that the particles accumulated in different parts of the ovarian tissue. The microplastics reduced ovarian weight, disrupted the normal development of egg follicles, altered the reproductive cycle, and lowered estrogen levels. The study suggests these effects are driven by oxidative stress and changes in key structural proteins within the ovary.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 99 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene microparticles exposures on spermatogenic cell differentiation and reproductive endpoints in male mice

Researchers found that very small polystyrene microplastics (0.1 micrometers) accumulated in mouse testicular tissue and sperm-producing cells, leading to reduced sperm quality and impaired reproductive function. The particles triggered oxidative stress and disrupted the normal process of sperm cell development. This study adds to growing evidence that microplastic exposure could contribute to male fertility problems in humans, particularly from the smallest particles that can penetrate reproductive tissues.

2025 Environmental Pollution 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induced male reproductive toxicity in mice

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.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 607 citations