Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Melatonin alleviates oxidative stress damage in mouse testes induced by bisphenol A

Researchers investigated whether melatonin could alleviate oxidative stress damage caused by bisphenol A (BPA) exposure in mouse testicular tissue. The study found that melatonin treatment reduced BPA-induced oxidative damage and improved sperm quality indicators, suggesting a potential protective role against the reproductive effects of this common plastic-associated chemical.

2024 Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Involvement of Nitric Oxide and Melatonin Enhances Cadmium Resistance of Tomato Seedlings through Regulation of the Ascorbate–Glutathione Cycle and ROS Metabolism

Researchers found that melatonin and nitric oxide work together to enhance cadmium stress tolerance in tomato seedlings, with melatonin acting partly through nitric oxide signaling to reduce oxidative damage and support seedling growth under heavy metal stress.

2023 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Exogenous Melatonin Application Alleviates Microplastics and Cadmium‐Induced Phytotoxicity in Maize ( Zea mays L.) Plants: Insights From Physiological and Metabolomic Analyses

Researchers investigated whether exogenous melatonin could alleviate the combined phytotoxicity of microplastics and cadmium in maize plants. The study found that melatonin application reduced oxidative damage and improved plant growth under co-contamination stress, suggesting that melatonin may serve as a biostimulant to help crops cope with the increasingly common co-occurrence of microplastics and heavy metals in agricultural soils.

2025 Journal of Pineal Research 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Melatonin mitigates polystyrene nanoplastics-induced impairment of oocyte maturation in mice

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics impair egg cell maturation in mice by causing excessive oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disrupting the structural machinery needed for proper cell division. They then tested whether melatonin could counteract these effects and found that melatonin treatment significantly alleviated the damage by restoring mitochondrial function and reducing oxidative stress. The study suggests that melatonin may offer a protective strategy against nanoplastic-induced reproductive harm.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Melatonin Supplementation during In Vitro Maturation of Porcine Oocytes Alleviates Oxidative Stress and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Induced by Imidacloprid Exposure

Researchers found that the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid adversely affected porcine oocyte maturation by increasing oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptosis. The study demonstrated that melatonin supplementation during in vitro maturation was able to restore oocyte quality and embryo development outcomes compromised by imidacloprid exposure, suggesting melatonin has protective properties against pesticide-induced reproductive toxicity.

2023 Animals 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Expression of RSPH6A in the first wave of rat spermatogenesis and oxidative stress conditions: Attenuation by melatonin

This study found that the sperm flagellar protein RSPH6A is expressed during the first wave of spermatogenesis in rats and plays a role in sperm motility and male fertility onset. The results raise the possibility of using RSPH6A as a biomarker for fertility assessment.

2023 Reproductive Medicine and Biology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Lutein Can Alleviate Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis Induced by Excessive Alcohol to Ameliorate Reproductive Damage in Male Rats

Researchers found that high-dose lutein supplementation alleviated alcohol-induced male reproductive damage in rats by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in testicular tissue, restoring sperm quality and sex hormone levels.

2022 Nutrients 34 citations
Article Tier 2

UPLC-MS/MS Analysis of Naturally Derived Apis mellifera Products and Their Promising Effects against Cadmium-Induced Adverse Effects in Female Rats

Researchers found that propolis and royal jelly supplementation mitigated cadmium-induced reproductive toxicity in female rats, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation while improving reproductive function markers.

2022 Nutrients 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effect of polystyrene microplastics and cadmium on rat blood-testis barrier integrity and sperm quality

Researchers exposed male rats to polystyrene microplastics and cadmium, both separately and together, and found that both substances damaged testicular tissue, disrupted the blood-testis barrier, and reduced sperm quality. Notably, the combined exposure was less severe than cadmium alone, likely because microplastics absorbed some cadmium in the gut and reduced its bioavailability. The study also found for the first time that microplastics trigger autophagy in reproductive cells as a protective response.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Oxidative Stress and Male Fertility: Promising Role of Nutraceuticals

This paper is not about microplastics; it reviews the role of oxidative stress in male infertility and the potential of nutraceuticals (antioxidant-rich dietary supplements) to improve sperm quality and hormonal profiles, with no connection to microplastic research.

2023 Biochemistry 2 citations
Article Tier 2

A retrospective cohort study of geographic differences in the semen of 1,012 sperm donors in China

Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study of over 1,000 sperm donors across China, hypothesizing that regional differences in sperm quality are driven by environmental pollution and mental stress associated with population density and urbanization.

2023 Translational Andrology and Urology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Melatonin Alleviates the Damage of Polystyrene Microplastics to Porcine Oocytes by Reducing Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Damage, and Regulating Autophagy and Apoptosis Levels

Researchers investigated whether the antioxidant melatonin could protect porcine oocytes from damage caused by polystyrene microplastics. The study found that microplastics at 30 micrograms per milliliter significantly impaired oocyte maturation, but melatonin treatment helped alleviate this damage by reducing oxidative stress, protecting mitochondrial function, and regulating autophagy and cell death pathways.

2025 Animals 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Feedback Regulation of sPLA2-COX/5-LOX-Ca2+ in Seminal Plasma and Its Impact on Sperm Quality Parameters

Researchers investigated feedback regulation of the sPLA2-COX/5-LOX-Ca2+ pathway in seminal plasma and its impact on sperm quality parameters. The study found that arachidonic acid metabolism in seminal plasma strongly influences sperm quality, with the PL-AA-COX1 model proposed as a sperm quality predictor and AA/COX1 supplementation shown to protect sperm under heat stress.

2025 Journal of Inflammation Research
Article Tier 2

Metabolic–endocrine remodelling of the testis under polystyrene nanoplastic exposure: Intervention by organ-specific phytocomplexes of Nelumbo nucifera

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics impair testosterone production and sperm quality in male rats by inducing testicular oxidative stress and disrupting cholesterol and energy metabolism, and showed that extracts from lotus plant organs — especially the rhizome — significantly protected testicular function through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

2026 Reproductive Biology
Meta Analysis Tier 3

Quantitative analysis and toxicological mechanisms of various male infertility inducers: A network meta-analysis and pharmacological approach.

This network meta-analysis of 201 rodent studies compared nine common male infertility inducers, finding that microplastics caused among the most severe impairments to sperm count and motility — on par with the chemotherapy drug cyclophosphamide. Oxidative stress emerged as a shared mechanistic pathway across all inducers, pointing to it as a key target for understanding and potentially mitigating reproductive harm from environmental exposures.

2026 Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.)
Article Tier 2

Reclaiming multi-contaminated soil: melatonin alleviates cadmium and microplastic toxicity to restore rice growth and yield

Researchers investigated whether melatonin could mitigate the combined toxicity of cadmium and microplastics in agricultural soils to restore rice growth and yield. The study found that melatonin treatment modulated plant physiological function, reduced cadmium uptake, and improved soil properties, offering a promising approach to help crops withstand multi-contaminant stress from both heavy metals and microplastics.

2026 RSC Advances
Article Tier 2

Melatonin counteracts polyethylene microplastics induced adreno-cortical damage in male albino rats

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics damaged the adrenal glands of male rats, disrupting cortisol production and reducing genes needed for hormone synthesis. This is the first study to specifically examine microplastic effects on the adrenal glands, which are critical for the body's stress response. The study also showed that melatonin, a natural hormone, provided significant protection against this damage, suggesting a possible way to counteract microplastic-related endocrine disruption.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioactive compounds as potential alternative treatments to prevent cancer therapy-induced male infertility

This review examines bioactive compounds like curcumin and resveratrol as potential non-invasive approaches to help preserve male fertility during cancer treatment. Researchers summarize evidence that these natural compounds may offer chemo-protective effects at the testicular level without the cost and invasiveness of conventional fertility preservation methods. The study suggests that nutritional therapies could complement existing strategies, particularly for younger patients where sperm cryopreservation is not feasible.

2024 Frontiers in Endocrinology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

The simultaneous administration of microplastics and cadmium alters rat testicular activity and changes the expression of PTMA, DAAM1 and PREP

Researchers examined the combined effects of microplastics and cadmium on testicular function in rats. The study found that simultaneous exposure caused testicular damage including impaired tissue structure, increased cell death, reduced testosterone, and altered expression of proteins involved in sperm cell development. The study suggests that microplastics may partially reduce cadmium bioavailability through adsorption, resulting in combined effects that were more severe than microplastics alone but less harmful than cadmium alone.

2023 Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene Nanoparticles Cause Sex‐Specific Toxicity in Male Zebrafish, Which Can Be Mitigated by Melatonin

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polystyrene nanoparticles for 14 days and found significant reproductive toxicity that was more pronounced in males, including reduced gonadal size and disrupted hormone signaling along the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Co-treatment with melatonin largely reversed these harmful effects by protecting against oxidative damage. The study suggests that melatonin may offer a potential protective strategy against nanoplastic-induced reproductive harm.

2026 Environmental Toxicology