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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Lactating exposure to microplastics at the dose of infants ingested during artificial feeding induced reproductive toxicity in female mice and their offspring
ClearIntergenerational 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.
Reproductive toxicity of microplastics in female mice and their offspring from induction of oxidative stress
When female mice were fed microplastics for 30 days, their egg quality, fertilization rates, and fertility dropped significantly due to oxidative stress and DNA damage. Even more concerning, the reproductive harm carried over to the next generation, with the daughters of exposed mice also showing reduced fertility. This study suggests that microplastic exposure could affect not just a person's own reproductive health but also that of their children.
Enhanced reproductive toxicities induced by phthalates contaminated microplastics in male mice (Mus musculus)
Researchers investigated the combined reproductive toxicity of phthalate-contaminated microplastics in male mice over a 30-day exposure period. They found that microplastics enhanced the accumulation of phthalates in the liver and gut, and the combination significantly worsened reproductive damage including reduced sperm quality and testicular tissue changes. The study suggests that microplastics may amplify the harmful effects of chemical contaminants they carry by increasing their bioavailability in the body.
The reproductive and transgenerational toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics: A threat to mammalian fertility in both sexes
This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics can accumulate in reproductive organs and harm fertility in both males and females. In animal studies, exposure led to damaged sperm, disrupted hormones, and abnormal ovary and uterus structure. Offspring of exposed mothers also showed metabolic problems, immune issues, and cognitive disorders, suggesting these particles may affect future generations.
Repeated-oral dose toxicity of polyethylene microplastics and the possible implications on reproduction and development of the next generation
Researchers administered polyethylene microplastics to mice by oral gavage for 90 days and observed significant effects including reduced body weight gain, increased neutrophil counts, and immune system changes. Microplastic-like material persisted in stomach tissue, and immune markers were altered in treated animals. A follow-up reproductive study found that microplastic exposure affected the number of live births, sex ratio of pups, and offspring immune cell populations, suggesting the need for further reproductive toxicity testing.
Unraveling the threat: Microplastics and nano-plastics' impact on reproductive viability across ecosystems
This review summarizes research on how microplastics and nanoplastics affect reproduction across many species, from aquatic invertebrates to mammals including humans. In males, exposure leads to testicular damage, lower sperm quality, and hormone disruption; in females, it causes ovarian and uterine problems, inflammation, and reduced fertility. The evidence also shows these reproductive harms can be passed to offspring, raising serious concerns about long-term effects on human fertility.
Reproductive toxicity of micro‐ and nanoplastics: Insights from experimental and human studies
This review examined 40 studies on how micro- and nanoplastics may affect human reproduction, finding that these particles have been detected in breast milk, placenta, ovaries, testes, and semen. Animal studies have linked plastic particle exposure to reduced sperm quality, disrupted egg development, smaller litter sizes, and possible effects passed to future generations. The evidence suggests that microplastic exposure may be a contributing factor worth investigating as global fertility rates continue to decline.
Unseen Threats: The Long‐term Impact of PET‐Microplastics on Development of Male Reproductive Over a Lifetime
Mice that ingested tiny PET plastic particles (the same plastic used in water bottles) over 29 weeks showed serious damage to their reproductive systems. Males had 69% fewer sperm, 24% less testosterone, and significantly smaller reproductive organs. These findings raise concerns that long-term exposure to microplastics from everyday plastics could harm male fertility in humans.
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.
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.
Effects of nano and microplastics on the reproduction system: In vitro and in vivo studies review
This review summarizes both lab and animal studies on how micro and nanoplastics affect the reproductive system in males and females. Evidence shows that microplastics can reduce sperm quality, damage ovaries, disrupt hormone levels, and even cross the placenta during pregnancy. The findings raise significant concerns about how widespread microplastic exposure might contribute to fertility problems and reproductive health issues in humans.
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.
Reproductive toxicity and related mechanisms of micro(nano)plastics in terrestrial mammals: Review of current evidence.
This review of terrestrial mammal studies found that micro- and nanoplastics induce reproductive toxicity through oxidative stress, inflammation, endocrine disruption, and DNA damage, affecting both male and female fertility. In males, effects include blood-testis barrier disruption and impaired spermatogenesis, while females show compromised oocyte maturation, ovarian fibrosis, and diminished ovarian reserve, with particles also capable of crossing the maternal-fetal interface.
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.
Assessing the impact of sub-chronic polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastic exposure on male reproductive health in mice
Researchers exposed male mice to nanoplastics made from PET (the same plastic used in water bottles and food containers) and found significant damage to their reproductive health. The nanoplastics reduced sperm quality, damaged testicular tissue, and disrupted hormone levels, raising concerns about how everyday plastic packaging may affect male fertility.
MicroRNA and Gut Microbiota Alter Intergenerational Effects of Paternal Exposure to Polyethylene Nanoplastics
In a mouse study, when fathers were exposed to polyethylene nanoplastics, their male offspring suffered reproductive damage including lower sperm counts and testicular injury — even though the offspring were never directly exposed. The effects were passed down through changes in small RNA molecules and gut bacteria, suggesting that nanoplastic exposure could affect fertility across generations.
Reproductive toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics
This review summarizes existing research on how micro- and nanoplastics harm reproduction across many species, from marine invertebrates to mammals. The particles can cause oxidative stress and hormone disruption, leading to reduced fertility, abnormal embryo development, and toxic effects that pass to offspring. The findings raise concerns that human reproductive health could be similarly affected given our increasing exposure to these particles.
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.
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.
The male reproductive toxicity after nanoplastics and microplastics exposure: Sperm quality and changes of different cells in testis
A mouse study compared the reproductive toxicity of nanoplastics versus microplastics and found that both damaged the testes after 12 weeks of exposure, but microplastics caused more severe harm in some measures. The plastics disrupted sperm production, caused inflammation and oxidative stress, and damaged the cells that support sperm development. These findings suggest that plastic particle exposure could contribute to male fertility problems, with different particle sizes affecting reproductive health through different biological pathways.
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.
The hidden threat: Unraveling the impact of microplastics on reproductive health
This review summarizes how microplastics disrupt the reproductive system in both males and females by interfering with hormone signaling, damaging the blood-testis barrier, impairing sperm production, and causing problems in the ovaries and uterus. The authors also note that microplastic exposure may affect offspring development, including their future reproductive capacity and metabolism.
Perinatal exposure to polystyrene microplastics induces multigenerational impairment of male reproduction via disrupted steroidogenesis and proteostasis
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.
Polylactic Acid Micro/Nanoplastic Exposure Induces Male Reproductive Toxicity by Disrupting Spermatogenesis and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Mice
Even so-called "eco-friendly" biodegradable plastic (polylactic acid, or PLA) was found to cause reproductive harm in male mice. After breaking down in the digestive system, tiny PLA nanoparticles crossed into the testes and damaged sperm quality, mitochondria (the energy producers in cells), and hormone levels. This challenges the assumption that biodegradable plastics are safe and highlights potential risks to male fertility.