Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Reproductive and metabolic toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics in adult female Wistar rats: a mechanistic study

Researchers gave female rats polystyrene microplastics orally for 45 days and found disruptions to both metabolic and reproductive hormone levels, including increased cholesterol, insulin resistance, and altered sex hormones. The microplastics also caused liver fibrosis and elevated inflammatory markers. The study suggests that chronic microplastic exposure may contribute to metabolic and endocrine disruption in mammals.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of polystyrene microplastic exposure at low doses on male fertility: an experimental study in rats

Researchers exposed adult male rats to varying doses of polystyrene microplastics and found dose-dependent declines in semen quality along with disrupted reproductive hormone levels. Higher doses caused increased oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, and inflammatory responses in testicular tissue. The study suggests that even relatively low doses of microplastic exposure may have adverse effects on male reproductive health in animal models.

2026 Scientific Reports
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene Microplastics Disrupt Spermatogenesis through Oxidative Stress in Rat Testicular Tissue

Male Wistar rats orally administered polystyrene microplastics showed excessive oxidative stress in testicular tissue across all exposure groups, with spermatogenesis impairment and reduced fertility correlating with dose, demonstrating reproductive toxicity in a mammalian model.

2025 Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International
Article Tier 2

Assessment of the Accumulation and Potential Toxicity of Polystyrene Microplastics in Rats

This study assessed polystyrene microplastic accumulation in aquatic organisms and evaluated associated toxicity endpoints including oxidative stress, histological changes, and behavioral effects. Microplastics accumulated in multiple tissues and caused dose-dependent physiological harm.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Toxic and Radioactive Waste
Article Tier 2

Impact of Polystyrene Exposure on Hepatorenal Responses in Male and Female Albino Wistar Rats

This study examined the impact of polystyrene microplastic exposure on kidney and liver function in male and female albino rats, finding sex-dependent differences in organ pathology and biomarker responses after subchronic exposure.

2024 Journal of Health and Environmental Research
Article Tier 2

Dose-Dependent Effect of Polystyrene Microplastics on the Testicular Tissues of the Male Sprague Dawley Rats

Male rats exposed to increasing doses of polystyrene microplastics showed dose-dependent testicular damage including disrupted spermatogenesis and altered hormone levels, suggesting potential reproductive toxicity from microplastic accumulation.

2021 Dose-Response 98 citations
Article Tier 2

The cardiovascular toxicity of polystyrene microplastics in rats: based on untargeted metabolomics analysis

A rat study using metabolomics analysis found that long-term exposure to high concentrations of polystyrene microplastics led to abnormal fat metabolism and cardiovascular damage. The harm appeared to be driven by oxidative stress and inflammation, suggesting that chronic microplastic exposure could contribute to heart and blood vessel disease.

2024 Frontiers in Pharmacology 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Gender difference in hepatic AMPK pathway activated lipid metabolism induced by aged polystyrene microplastics exposure

Researchers found gender-specific effects of aged polystyrene microplastics on lipid metabolism in mice, with females showing significant fat reduction and altered estrogen-AMPK signaling pathways in the liver, while males showed different metabolic responses.

2022 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Thyroid endocrine status and biochemical stress responses in adult male Wistar rats chronically exposed to pristine polystyrene nanoplastics

Adult male rats were given daily oral doses of polystyrene nanoplastics for five weeks, causing dose-dependent reductions in thyroid hormone levels (T3, T4, FT3, FT4) and increases in TSH, along with elevated oxidative stress markers. The study provides evidence that chronic nanoplastic ingestion disrupts the thyroid endocrine system in a mammalian model.

2019 Toxicology Research 80 citations
Article Tier 2

Chronic toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics on reproductive parameters of male rats

Researchers studied the chronic toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics on the reproductive system of male rats over 90 days. The study found significant reductions in sperm volume, motility, epididymal count, and serum testosterone levels, along with disrupted testicular architecture and decreased antioxidant capacity. The findings suggest that chronic microplastic exposure may adversely affect male reproductive parameters in mammals.

2022 Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics cause granulosa cells apoptosis and fibrosis in ovary through oxidative stress in rats

Researchers exposed female rats to polystyrene microplastics at different concentrations for 90 days and examined the effects on their ovaries. The study found that microplastic exposure caused cell death and tissue scarring in the ovaries through oxidative stress, suggesting that microplastics may have implications for female reproductive health.

2020 Toxicology 415 citations
Article Tier 2

Dose‐Dependent Toxicological Effects of Polyvinyl Chloride and Polystyrene Microplastics on Wistar Albino Rats

Researchers fed rats PVC and polystyrene microplastics at different doses for eight weeks and observed significant changes including weight loss, elevated blood glucose, increased cholesterol and liver enzymes, and signs of oxidative stress. The study suggests that oral microplastic exposure at these levels can cause dose-dependent toxicological effects across multiple organ systems in mammals.

2026 Journal of Applied Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Comparative analysis of reproductive toxicity of polystyrene‐nanoplastics and polystyrene‐microplastics in rat Sertoli cells

This comparative study found that polystyrene nanoplastics cause greater toxicity to Sertoli cells than microplastics due to cellular internalization, disrupting blood-testis barrier integrity via oxidative stress and apoptosis, while microplastics primarily triggered extracellular inflammation.

2025 Andrology
Article Tier 2

Comparative impact of polystyrene, rice bag-derived high-density polyethylene nanoparticles, and polystyrene–silver nanoparticle interactions in a 28-day in vivo study in male and female Wistar rats

Researchers gave rats daily doses of plastic nanoparticles for 28 days and found subtle signs of DNA damage, cholesterol changes, and liver stress — with females showing greater sensitivity in lipid metabolism and males experiencing reduced testicular weight from HDPE plastic nanoparticles. The study highlights that the health effects of nanoplastics differ by sex and can be worsened when multiple types of nanoparticles are mixed together.

2026 Scientific Reports
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
Article Tier 2

Untargeted lipidomics uncover hepatic lipid signatures induced by long-term exposure to polystyrene microplastics in vivo

Researchers exposed rats to polystyrene microplastics over 6 and 12 months and used advanced lipid profiling to assess liver damage. They found that long-term exposure caused liver inflammation, fatty liver changes, and significant alterations in eight key lipid metabolites involved in fat processing. The study provides evidence that chronic microplastic exposure can disrupt liver lipid metabolism, raising concerns about long-term health effects.

2024 Toxicology Letters 7 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Can Mammalian Reproductive Health Withstand Massive Exposure to Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastic Derivatives? A Systematic Review

This systematic review examined how polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics affect reproductive health in mammals. The evidence from animal studies shows these particles can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and hormonal imbalances in reproductive organs, raising concerns about potential effects on human fertility.

2024 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics-induced oxidative stress, antioxidant defense, and physiological response in exposed Wistar albino rats

Researchers orally exposed Wistar rats to polystyrene nanoplastics at multiple doses for five weeks and observed dose-dependent increases in oxidative stress. The study found significant alterations in liver and kidney function markers, disrupted energy metabolism, and changes in antioxidant enzyme activity, suggesting that nanoplastic exposure may affect multiple organ systems in mammals.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 58 citations
Article Tier 2

Reproductive Toxicity of Chronic Exposure To Polystyrene Microplastics And The Molecular Mechanism of Decrease In Testosterone Levels In Male Mice

Chronic exposure to polystyrene microplastics lowered testosterone levels in male mice and disrupted reproductive organ function. The study identified molecular pathways through which microplastics interfere with male hormone production, with implications for reproductive health in humans exposed through diet.

2021 Research Square (Research Square) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Dose-dependent alteration in hepatic and cerebral glucose metabolism following exposure to polystyrene microplastic in Wistar rats

Researchers exposed Wistar rats to polystyrene microplastics and observed dose-dependent changes in glucose metabolism in both the liver and brain. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may disrupt normal metabolic processes, with higher doses leading to more pronounced alterations in hepatic and cerebral glucose handling.

2024 INDIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY AND ALLIED SCIENCES 3 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

Toxic Effects of Immunofluorescent Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Rat Testicular Tissue

Researchers exposed rat testicular tissue to fluorescent polystyrene nanoplastics at two different doses for one month and found that the particles accumulated in the reproductive organs. Higher doses led to increased oxidative stress, tissue damage, and changes in biochemical markers associated with reproductive function. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure may pose risks to male reproductive health, though more research is needed to understand the implications for humans.

2025 Bratislavské lekárske listy/Bratislava medical journal 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics dysregulate lipid metabolism in murine macrophages in vitro

Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on immune cell metabolism and found that macrophages exposed to nanoplastics transformed into lipid-laden foam cells. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure dysregulates lipid metabolism in immune cells, with implications for understanding how these particles may interact with the immune system at the cellular level.

2021 Toxicology 91 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