Papers

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Article Tier 2

Probiotics as a therapeutic approach to alleviate reproductive harm from polystyrene microplastics in male rats

Researchers tested whether probiotic supplementation could protect against reproductive toxicity caused by polystyrene microplastic exposure in male rats, finding that PS-MP caused dose-dependent testicular damage and disrupted kisspeptin signaling in the hypothalamus. Probiotics partially reversed these effects, suggesting a gut-testis axis through which microbiome modulation may mitigate reproductive harm.

2025 Scientific Reports
Article Tier 2

Microplastics-perturbed gut microbiota triggered the testicular disorder in male mice: Via fecal microbiota transplantation

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics disrupted gut microbiota in mice, which in turn triggered testicular damage and reproductive disorders. Through fecal microbiota transplantation experiments, the study suggests that gut bacteria play a critical role in microplastic-induced reproductive toxicity, with inflammatory immune responses driven by bacterial changes being a key mechanism.

2022 Environmental Pollution 71 citations
Article Tier 2

Lactobacillus brevis GKJOY Supplementation Ameliorates Oxidative Stress and Reproductive Dysfunction in Male Rats with Polystyrene Microplastics-Induced Reproductive Toxicity

Researchers investigated whether the probiotic Lactobacillus brevis GKJOY could protect against reproductive damage caused by polystyrene microplastics in male rats. The study found that probiotic supplementation helped reduce oxidative stress and improved reproductive function in microplastic-exposed animals, suggesting that certain probiotics may offer protective benefits against microplastic-related reproductive toxicity.

2025 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 1 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

Adolescent exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics induces male reproductive damage via the microbiome-gut-testis axis

Researchers exposed adolescent rats to polystyrene nanoplastics for five weeks and observed dose-dependent damage to testicular tissue, disrupted spermatogenesis, and compromised blood-testis barrier integrity. The study revealed a novel microbiome-gut-testis axis mechanism, where nanoplastics altered gut bacteria composition, which in turn contributed to reproductive toxicity in developing males.

2026 Journal of Nanobiotechnology
Article Tier 2

Lactic acid bacteria reduce polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics-induced toxicity through their bio-binding capacity and gut environment repair ability

Researchers found that lactic acid bacteria, the kind used in yogurt and fermented foods, can reduce the toxic effects of polystyrene micro and nanoplastics in mice. The bacteria worked by physically binding to the plastic particles and by repairing damage to the gut lining and restoring healthy gut bacteria populations. This suggests that probiotics could be a practical way to help protect the digestive system from the harmful effects of microplastic exposure through food and water.

2024 Environmental Pollution 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Gut microbiota is involved in male reproductive function: a review

This review summarizes how gut bacteria influence male reproductive health, including sperm quality, testicular health, sex hormone levels, and sexual behavior. The findings suggest that an unhealthy gut microbiome may contribute to male infertility, while probiotic supplements could potentially improve reproductive function -- an important connection as microplastics are known to disrupt gut bacteria.

2024 Frontiers in Microbiology 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts of polystyrene microplastic on the gut barrier, microbiota and metabolism of mice

Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene microplastics for six weeks and found that the particles accumulated in the gut, reduced protective mucus secretion, and damaged the intestinal barrier. The microplastics also significantly altered the composition of gut bacteria, decreasing beneficial species and increasing harmful ones. The study suggests that microplastic ingestion could disrupt gut health in mammals by simultaneously impairing the physical barrier and reshaping the microbiome.

2018 The Science of The Total Environment 986 citations
Article Tier 2

Could probiotics protect against human toxicity caused by polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics?

This review examines whether probiotics could help protect against the harmful effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics in the body. Researchers found evidence that probiotic bacteria may counteract plastic-induced gut imbalances, reduce inflammation, and support intestinal barrier function. The study suggests that probiotics represent a promising area of research for mitigating some of the biological effects of microplastic exposure, though more human studies are needed.

2023 Frontiers in Nutrition 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Gut microbiota and liver metabolomics reveal the potential mechanism of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG modulating the liver toxicity caused by polystyrene microplastics in mice

Researchers found that the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG helped protect mice from liver damage caused by polystyrene microplastic exposure. The probiotic worked by restoring healthy gut bacteria and normalizing liver metabolic pathways disrupted by the microplastics. The study suggests that supporting gut health through beneficial bacteria may help mitigate some of the toxic effects microplastics have on the liver.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Lactobacillus plantarum reduces polystyrene microplastic induced toxicity via multiple pathways: A potentially effective and safe dietary strategy to counteract microplastic harm

Researchers found that Lactobacillus plantarum, a probiotic bacterium commonly found in fermented foods, can reduce the harmful effects of polystyrene microplastics in mice through multiple pathways. The bacteria worked by binding directly to plastic particles to help remove them from the body, reducing oxidative damage, repairing the intestinal barrier, and regulating bile acid metabolism. This suggests that certain probiotics could be a safe dietary strategy to help counteract some of the negative health effects of microplastic exposure.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 6 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Probiotics as Modulators of Microplastic-induced Toxicity: A Systematic Review

This systematic review found that probiotics can reduce microplastic-induced toxicity in animal models by restoring gut microbiota balance, reducing oxidative stress, and modulating inflammatory responses. The findings suggest that probiotic supplementation may help mitigate the harmful effects of unavoidable microplastic exposure, though human clinical trials are still needed.

2025 Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins
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

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

Polystyrene nanoplastics sequester the toxicity mitigating potential of probiotics by altering gut microbiota in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Researchers tested whether probiotic pretreatment could protect grass carp from the toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on gut health. While probiotics initially boosted immune responses and reduced intestinal damage, the protective effect was not strong enough to fully counteract nanoplastic toxicity over time. The study suggests that nanoplastics can undermine the gut health benefits of probiotics by disrupting the balance of gut bacteria.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 7 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

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

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

The Alleviative Effects of Weizmannia coagulans CGMCC 9951 on the Reproductive Toxicity of Caenorhabditis elegans Induced by Polystyrene Microplastics

Researchers tested whether a probiotic strain called Weizmannia coagulans could reduce the reproductive harm caused by polystyrene microplastics in a laboratory worm model. They found that the probiotic improved reproductive outcomes by boosting antioxidant defenses and reducing DNA damage in the worms' reproductive cells. The study suggests that certain probiotics may help counteract some of the reproductive toxicity associated with microplastic exposure.

2025 Microorganisms 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and lipopolysaccharide on testosterone biosynthesis and inflammation in mouse testis

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics combined with bacterial toxins (LPS) caused worse damage to mouse testicles than either substance alone, reducing sperm count, lowering testosterone levels, and increasing inflammation. Since microplastics in the environment can carry bacteria and their toxins, this combination exposure is realistic. The findings suggest that nanoplastic pollution could amplify the reproductive harm caused by bacterial infections in males.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 21 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Interactions between polystyrene-derived micro- and nanoplastics and the microbiota: a systematic review of multi-omics mouse studies

Researchers systematically reviewed 15 mouse studies and found that exposure to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics consistently disrupted gut bacteria — reducing beneficial species like Lactobacillus and increasing harmful ones — while also altering metabolic pathways throughout the body. Nanoplastics caused more severe microbiome disruption than larger microplastics, highlighting a serious health concern for humans.

2026 Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part C
Article Tier 2

Gut Check: Microbiota and Obesity in Mice Exposed to Polystyrene Microspheres

Researchers found that gut microbiota appeared to play a mediating role in the obesity outcomes observed in mice fed manufactured polystyrene microspheres, suggesting that microplastic-induced alterations to the gut microbiome may be a mechanism linking microplastic exposure to metabolic dysfunction and weight gain.

2024 Environmental Health Perspectives
Article Tier 2

Determination of Biological and Molecular Attributes Related to Polystyrene Microplastic-Induced Reproductive Toxicity and Its Reversibility in Male Mice

Researchers exposed male mice to polystyrene microplastics through drinking water and found that the particles caused mitochondrial damage in testicular tissue, including reduced membrane potential and disrupted energy production. This mitochondrial dysfunction led to decreased sperm quality, likely driven by oxidative stress. Importantly, the study found that sperm quality recovered after one to two spermatogenic cycles without further exposure, suggesting that reproductive toxicity from microplastics may be reversible.

2022 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 42 citations
Article Tier 2

The probiotic SLAB51 as agent to counteract BPA toxicity on zebrafish gut microbiota -liver-brain axis

Researchers tested whether the probiotic supplement SLAB51 could counteract the harmful effects of bisphenol A (BPA), a plastic-derived chemical, in zebrafish and found it significantly restored healthy gut bacteria, reduced liver damage, and protected the brain — suggesting probiotics may help offset harm from plastic-associated chemical exposure.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 21 citations