Papers

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Article Tier 2

Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics during gestation and lactation induces hepatic and testicular toxicity in male mouse offspring

Researchers exposed pregnant and nursing mice to polystyrene nanoplastics and studied the effects on their male offspring. The offspring showed reduced body weight, liver damage with inflammation and disrupted sugar metabolism, and testicular harm including decreased sperm counts. The findings suggest that nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy and breastfeeding can cause significant organ damage in the next generation.

2022 Food and Chemical Toxicology 168 citations
Article Tier 2

Oral exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics reduced male fertility and even caused male infertility by inducing testicular and sperm toxicities in mice

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.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 130 citations
Article Tier 2

Transcriptome and proteome analyses reveal the mechanisms involved in polystyrene nanoplastics disrupt spermatogenesis in mice

Using advanced genetic and protein analysis, researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics disrupted sperm production in male mice after 28 days of exposure. The nanoplastics reduced sperm count and movement, damaged the structure of sperm-producing tubes, triggered cell death, and lowered hormone levels needed for male fertility. This study provides detailed molecular evidence for how nanoplastic exposure could contribute to male reproductive problems.

2023 Environmental Pollution 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity to the Male Reproductive System after Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics: A Macrogenomic and Metabolomic Analysis

Researchers exposed male mice to polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes through their drinking water for four months and found significant harm to reproductive function. The nanoplastics disrupted gene activity and metabolic pathways in the gut, which was linked to reduced sperm quality and testicular damage. The study suggests that long-term nanoplastic exposure through drinking water may pose risks to male reproductive health.

2024 Toxics 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Prenatal and postnatal exposure to polystyrene microplastics induces testis developmental disorder and affects male fertility in mice

Researchers exposed pregnant mice and their offspring to polystyrene microplastics from gestation through early life and found significant disruption to testicular development and male reproductive function. The exposed males showed reduced sperm quality, lower testosterone levels, and structural damage to testicular tissue. The study suggests that early-life microplastic exposure may have lasting effects on male fertility.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 116 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the Biological Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Spermatogenesis: Insights From Transcriptomic Analysis in Mouse Spermatocytes

Researchers exposed mouse spermatocytes to polystyrene nanoplastics and observed membrane disruption, mitochondrial damage, increased oxidative stress, and DNA damage within 24 hours. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 134 genes with altered expression, many linked to critical reproductive processes like sperm development and mitochondrial organization. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure may interfere with male reproductive health at the cellular and genetic level.

2024 International Journal of Toxicology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene Microplastics Affect the Reproductive Performance of Male Mice and Lipid Homeostasis in Their Offspring

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.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology Letters 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of orally administered polystyrene nanoplastics on reproduction and development in rodents

This study examined the reproductive and developmental effects of orally administered polystyrene nanoplastics in an animal model, finding that NP ingestion impaired fertility metrics and offspring development, contributing to growing evidence of nanoplastic reproductive toxicity.

2025 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Maternal Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics Disrupts Spermatogenesis in Mouse Offspring by Inducing Prdm14 Overexpression in Undifferentiated Spermatogonia

When pregnant mice were exposed to nanoplastics (extremely small plastic particles), their male offspring had lower testosterone, fewer sperm, and damaged sperm-producing cells. The nanoplastics caused inflammation in the cells responsible for sperm production, disrupting a key gene (Prdm14) that controls sperm development. This suggests that a mother's plastic exposure during pregnancy could affect her sons' fertility later in life.

2025 ACS Nano 16 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

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

Polystyrene nanoplastics aggravate reproductive system damage in obese male mice by perturbation of the testis redox homeostasis

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.

2023 Environmental Toxicology 20 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 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
Article Tier 2

Integrated fecal microbiome and metabolome analysis explore the link between polystyrene nanoplastics exposure and male reproductive toxicity in mice

Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes and doses, then analyzed fecal microbiome and metabolome changes alongside reproductive outcomes. The study found that nanoplastic exposure disrupted gut microbiota balance and metabolic pathways, which correlated with reduced sperm count, viability, and testosterone levels. The findings suggest that gut microbiota-metabolite disruption may play an important role in nanoplastic-induced male reproductive toxicity.

2023 Environmental Toxicology 23 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

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

Low-dose polystyrene microplastics exposure impairs fertility in male mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity by affecting prostate function

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.

2024 Environmental Pollution 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics impacts developmental milestones and brain structure in mouse offspring

Researchers exposed pregnant mice to polystyrene nanoplastics and studied the effects on their offspring's brain development. The study found that maternal nanoplastic exposure affected developmental milestones and brain structure in the young mice. The findings suggest that nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy may pose risks to fetal brain development, though more research is needed to understand the implications for humans.

2023 Environmental Science Advances 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics causes brain abnormalities in progeny

When pregnant mice were exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics, their offspring showed abnormal brain development including changes in neural stem cell function, altered brain structure, and cognitive problems. The effects were gender-specific, with some deficits appearing more strongly in one sex. This study raises concerns that nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy could increase the risk of neurodevelopmental problems in children.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 271 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

Dual impact of microplastic exposure in a mouse model: Impaired uterine receptivity and altered maternal-offspring metabolism

Researchers exposed female mice to polystyrene microplastics and found that the particles impaired uterine receptivity, which is critical for embryo implantation, and altered metabolic profiles in both the mothers and their offspring. The microplastics disrupted gene expression related to uterine function and caused metabolic changes across multiple organs. The findings suggest that microplastic exposure could have reproductive and metabolic consequences that extend to the next generation.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Gut microbiota combined with metabolome dissects long-term nanoplastics exposure-induced disturbed spermatogenesis

Researchers studied how long-term exposure to nanoplastics affects sperm production in mice by analyzing changes in gut bacteria and metabolic pathways. They found that nanoplastic exposure disrupted spermatogenesis, with amino-modified nanoplastics causing more severe effects than standard polystyrene particles. The study suggests that nanoplastics may harm male reproductive health by altering gut microbiota and lipid metabolism.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 16 citations
Article Tier 2

The emerging risk of exposure to nano(micro)plastics on endocrine disturbance and reproductive toxicity: From a hypothetical scenario to a global public health challenge

Researchers administered polystyrene nanoplastics orally to male rats for five weeks and found significant reductions in testosterone, LH, and FSH levels, sperm DNA damage, altered testicular gene expression, and dose-dependent histological lesions, indicating that nanoplastic exposure disrupts the hormonal axis governing male reproductive function.

2020 Environmental Pollution 297 citations