Papers

61,005 results
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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

Polystyrene microplastics induced female reproductive toxicity in mice

Researchers exposed female mice to polystyrene microplastics for 35 days and found the particles accumulated in multiple organs including the ovaries, where they caused inflammation and oxidative stress. The microplastics reduced egg quality by lowering protective antioxidants, disrupting mitochondrial function, and altering calcium levels in the cells. This study provides evidence that microplastic exposure could harm female fertility by directly damaging the ovaries and the eggs they produce.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 403 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics lead to pyroptosis and apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells via NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway in rats

In a 90-day study, female rats exposed to polystyrene microplastics had fewer healthy ovarian follicles, increased oxidative damage, and elevated inflammation in their ovaries. The microplastics triggered a type of inflammatory cell death called pyroptosis in the cells surrounding eggs, along with increased programmed cell death. These findings suggest that microplastic exposure could harm female fertility by damaging the ovaries and the cells needed for healthy egg development.

2021 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 339 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) on the entire female mouse reproductive cycle: Assessing reproductive toxicity of microplastics through in vitro follicle culture

Female mice exposed to polystyrene microplastics suffered significant damage to their reproductive systems, including ovarian cell death, abnormal egg development, and fewer offspring. The microplastics accumulated in the ovaries and triggered cell death pathways while disrupting survival signaling in the cells that support egg development, suggesting microplastic exposure could contribute to declining fertility.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Surface-charge-dependent ovarian toxicity of polystyrene microplastics: Insights into accumulation, mitochondrial damage, and macrophage polarization

Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics with different surface charges accumulate in and damage rat ovaries after oral exposure. Positively charged amino-modified microplastics accumulated most in ovarian tissue and caused the most severe effects, including hormonal disruption, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial damage. The study suggests that surface charge is a key factor determining how microplastics affect reproductive organs.

2026 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on the female reproductive system in mice: Implications for ovarian function and follicular development

Researchers exposed female mice to polystyrene nanoplastics orally for 29 days and examined the effects on their reproductive systems. They found that nanoplastic exposure disrupted estrous cycles, impaired follicle development, and altered hormone levels in a dose-dependent manner. The study suggests that nanoplastics, due to their extremely small size, may cross biological barriers and accumulate in reproductive tissues, raising concerns about potential effects on fertility.

2025 Reproductive Toxicology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics induce apoptosis, autophagy, and steroidogenesis disruption in granulosa cells to reduce oocyte quality and fertility by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway in female mice

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics (tiny plastic particles under 1 micrometer) impair egg cell quality in female mice by damaging the ovarian support cells that help eggs mature, triggering cell death and disrupting hormone production. These findings raise important questions about the potential reproductive risks of nanoplastic exposure in women.

2024 Journal of Nanobiotechnology 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene Microplastics Induced Ovarian Toxicity in Juvenile Rats Associated with Oxidative Stress and Activation of the PERK-eIF2α-ATF4-CHOP Signaling Pathway

Researchers exposed juvenile female rats to polystyrene microplastics and found significant ovarian damage, including increased follicle death and reduced hormone levels. The microplastics triggered oxidative stress and activated a specific cellular stress pathway that led to programmed cell death in ovarian tissue. The study suggests that early-life microplastic exposure may pose risks to reproductive development in mammals.

2023 Toxics 46 citations
Clinical Trial Tier 1

A review of the impact of micro‐ and nanoplastics on female reproduction: What we know and gaps in knowledge

This review examines what is known about how micro- and nanoplastics affect female reproductive health. Animal studies show these particles accumulate in ovarian tissue, disrupt hormones, and cause oxidative stress, leading to hormonal imbalances and ovarian damage, though research in humans is still limited.

2025 International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics
Article Tier 2

The risk of short-term microplastic exposure on female reproductive function: A rat model study

Researchers investigated the effects of short-term microplastic exposure on female reproductive function in rats and found that even brief exposure disrupted hormone levels and altered ovarian and uterine tissue. Higher concentrations of microplastics led to thinning of the uterine lining and changes in steroid hormone receptor expression. The study suggests that even intermittent microplastic exposure may pose risks to reproductive health.

2025 NanoImpact 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Adverse health effects and mechanisms of microplastics on female reproductive system: a descriptive review

This review describes how microplastics, particularly polystyrene, can reach and accumulate in the female reproductive system through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact. Animal studies suggest these particles may disrupt ovarian function, hormone balance, and fertility through oxidative stress and inflammation. While human evidence is still emerging, the research raises important questions about microplastic exposure and women's reproductive health.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 46 citations
Article Tier 2

The ovarian-related effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on human ovarian granulosa cells and female mice

This study tested the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on both human ovarian cells in the lab and on female mice. The nanoplastics accumulated in ovarian tissue, caused cell death, disrupted hormone levels, and reduced egg quality and fertility in mice. These findings suggest that nanoplastic exposure could threaten female reproductive health by damaging the ovaries.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 90 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

Microplastics are present in women’s and cows’ follicular fluid and polystyrene microplastics compromise bovine oocyte function in vitro

Researchers detected microplastics in the follicular fluid of both women and cows, marking one of the first studies to find these particles in reproductive tissues. In laboratory tests, polystyrene microplastics impaired bovine egg cell function at concentrations comparable to what was found in the follicular fluid. The findings raise questions about whether microplastic exposure could be a contributing factor in the widespread declines in reproductive health observed in recent decades.

2023 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity of polystyrene nanoparticles for mouse ovary and cultured human granulosa cells

Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene nanoparticles on female reproductive health using both mouse ovaries and human granulosa cell cultures. They found that nanoparticle exposure damaged ovarian tissue, reduced egg quality, and triggered cell death through oxidative stress and inflammation pathways. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure may pose risks to female fertility, though more research is needed to confirm effects at real-world exposure levels.

2022 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 82 citations
Article Tier 2

Transplacental and lactational transfer of polystyrene nanoplastics leads to long-term ovarian impairment in rat offspring

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics crossed the placental barrier in rats and accumulated in fetal and postnatal ovaries, causing dose-dependent damage to follicle development and ovarian structure. Exposed offspring showed reduced primordial follicle numbers, granulosa cell disorganization, and hormonal imbalances that persisted through postnatal day 60. The study suggests that maternal nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy and lactation may have long-lasting effects on female reproductive development.

2026 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances
Article Tier 2

Microplastics are present in women’s and cows’ follicular fluid and polystyrene microplastics compromise bovine oocyte function in vitro

Researchers detected microplastics in both women's and cows' follicular fluid for the first time, and showed that polystyrene microplastics impair bovine oocyte function in vitro, raising concern that environmental microplastic exposure may be contributing to declining reproductive health.

2022 6 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Impact of microplastics on female reproductive health: insights from animal and human experimental studies: a systematic review

This systematic review of 15 experimental studies found that microplastic exposure significantly impairs ovarian function, decreases fertility rates, and disrupts hormone levels in female subjects. Several studies also reported negative effects on embryo development and offspring health, though study quality varied and more rigorous research is needed to confirm mechanisms.

2025 Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics impair mouse oocyte maturation by interfering with fatty acid oxidation

Researchers exposed female mice to polystyrene microplastics via oral dosing for 35 days and found that high doses impair oocyte maturation by upregulating SIRT4 and suppressing fatty acid oxidation, with downstream effects including spindle abnormalities, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and accelerated ovarian aging.

2026 Environmental Sciences Europe
Article Tier 2

Intergenerational 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.

2025 Global Reproductive Health
Article Tier 2

Exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics induces lysosomal enlargement and lipid droplet accumulation in KGN human ovarian granulosa cells

Researchers exposed human ovarian cells to polystyrene nanoplastics and found that the particles entered the cells and caused abnormal enlargement of lysosomes (cellular recycling structures) and accumulation of fat droplets. These changes occurred even at concentrations that did not kill the cells outright, suggesting subtle but potentially significant damage. The findings point to a possible mechanism by which nanoplastics could impair female reproductive health.

2025 Archives of Toxicology 5 citations
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

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

Concerning influences of micro/nano plastics on female reproductive health: focusing on cellular and molecular pathways from animal models to human studies

This review summarizes research showing that micro- and nanoplastics can harm the female reproductive system in multiple ways, from reducing ovarian reserves and disrupting hormone balance to accumulating in the placenta and breast milk. Animal studies show these particles trigger oxidative stress and inflammation in reproductive tissues, and human studies have confirmed their presence in placental tissue and infant feces, raising concerns about effects on fertility and fetal development.

2024 Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 38 citations