We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Transcriptomics and metabolomics reveal functional nanoplastics-induced male reproductive damage and resveratrol antagonistic effects
ClearAssessing 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.
Exploring the impact of polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics on male reproductive health: Insights from a mouse model study
Researchers investigated the impact of polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics on male reproductive health, examining whether nanoplastic exposure contributes to infertility by affecting sperm function, hormone levels, or testicular tissue. Results showed PET nanoplastics impaired reproductive endpoints in the male reproductive system, adding to growing concern about plastic particle effects on fertility.
Astragalus Polysaccharides Ameliorate the Toxic Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Boar Sperm
Scientists found that tiny plastic particles called nanoplastics can damage sperm cells by causing harmful chemical reactions, but a natural compound from the Astragalus plant can help protect against this damage. This study used pig sperm in lab dishes, so we don't know yet if the same protection would work in humans. The findings matter because microplastics are everywhere in our environment and food, and this research suggests natural antioxidants might help reduce their potential harm to reproductive health.
Polystyrene nanoplastics aggravate reproductive system damage in obese male mice by perturbation of the testis redox homeostasis
Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics worsened reproductive damage in male mice already fed a high-fat diet, reducing sperm quality and testosterone production beyond what obesity alone caused. The nanoplastics disrupted the protective blood-testis barrier and increased oxidative stress in reproductive tissues. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure combined with obesity may create compounding risks to male fertility.
Oral exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics reduced male fertility and even caused male infertility by inducing testicular and sperm toxicities in mice
Researchers fed male mice polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes (25, 50, and 100 nm) for 56 days and found that all sizes reduced fertility and some caused complete infertility. The nanoplastics accumulated in the testes, causing oxidative stress, cell death, and inflammation that damaged sperm and reproductive tissue. This study raises concerns that human exposure to nanoplastics through food and water could contribute to declining male fertility.
Exploring the impact of polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics on male reproductive health: Insights from a mouse model study
Researchers investigated the effects of PET nanoplastics on male reproductive function, examining sperm quality, hormone levels, and testicular tissue in animal models. PET nanoplastic exposure reduced sperm motility and caused histological changes in testicular tissue, suggesting a potential role in male infertility.
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.
Unravelling the potential mechanisms of nano- and microplastic toxicity to the male reproductive system: A systematic review
This systematic review found that micro- and nanoplastics accumulate in the testes and epididymis in rodent models, disrupting the blood-testis barrier, increasing germ cell death, reducing sperm motility, and causing hormone imbalance through oxidative stress and inflammation. Smaller nanoplastics penetrate tissues more readily for molecular disruption, while larger microplastics cause greater structural damage.
Research Progress in Reproductive Toxicity of Micro- and Nanoplastics on Males and Its Mechanisms
This review summarized research on the reproductive toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in males, finding that MNPs accumulate in reproductive organs and cause toxicity through oxidative stress, hormonal disruption, and DNA damage, with implications for both animal and human reproductive health.
Pharmacotherapeutic potential of ginkgetin against polystyrene microplastics–instigated testicular toxicity in rats: A biochemical, spermatological, and histopathological assessment
In a rat study, polystyrene microplastics caused significant damage to the testes, including reduced sperm quality, oxidative stress, and tissue inflammation, but the natural plant compound ginkgetin was able to partially reverse this damage. Ginkgetin worked by boosting antioxidant defenses and reducing the inflammatory response triggered by the microplastics. This suggests that natural antioxidant compounds might help protect male reproductive health from the harmful effects of microplastic exposure.
The presence of microplastics in human semen and the protective role of nicotinamide mononucleotide against polystyrene nanoplastics-induced reproductive and early embryonic toxicity
Researchers detected microplastics, including polystyrene, in human semen samples using laser direct infrared spectroscopy, confirming that these particles reach the male reproductive tract. In laboratory and mouse experiments, polystyrene nanoplastics impaired sperm motility, increased oxidative stress, and disrupted early embryonic development in a dose-dependent manner. The study found that nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) effectively reversed many of these harmful effects by restoring antioxidant capacity, suggesting a potential protective intervention.
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.
Comparing the effects and mechanisms of exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics with different functional groups on the male reproductive system
Scientists exposed male mice to polystyrene nanoparticles with different surface charges (unmodified, negatively charged, and positively charged) and found all three types damaged reproductive health by reducing sperm count, increasing sperm defects, and disrupting testicular tissue. The positively charged (amino-modified) nanoparticles were the most toxic, causing the greatest reproductive damage. This is important because as plastics age in the environment, they develop different surface charges that may make them more harmful to reproductive health than pristine plastic particles.
Reproductive and developmental implications of micro- and nanoplastic internalization: Recent advances and perspectives
This systematic review documented the detection of micro- and nanoplastics in human semen, placenta, and ovarian follicular fluid, and found evidence linking exposure to impaired sperm quality, disrupted ovarian function, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. In animal models, MNPs caused developmental toxicity and transgenerational effects, with oxidative stress, inflammation, and epigenetic modification identified as key mechanisms.
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.
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.
Size-dependent deleterious effects of nano- and microplastics on sperm motility
In a mouse study, nano- and microplastics of four different sizes all impaired sperm movement quality, with the smallest particles (25-30 nanometers) causing the most damage. The tiny particles were able to penetrate into testicular cells, while larger particles could not. This research adds to growing evidence that microplastic exposure at environmentally realistic levels could contribute to declining male fertility, with nanoplastics posing the greatest risk due to their ability to enter reproductive tissues.
Micro- and nanoplastics in human male reproduction: Immune disruption, blood–testis barrier, and clinic-ready biomarkers
This review synthesizes evidence that micro- and nanoplastics have been detected in human testes and semen, with experimental models showing they trigger oxidative stress, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and disruption of blood-testis barrier tight-junction proteins, collectively impairing sperm production and quality.
Attenuative effect of astilbin on polystyrene microplastics induced testicular damage: Biochemical, spermatological and histopathological-based evidences
Researchers found that astilbin, a natural plant compound, significantly reduced testicular damage caused by polystyrene microplastic exposure in rats. The microplastics disrupted hormone levels, sperm quality, and testicular tissue structure, but astilbin treatment counteracted these effects by boosting antioxidant defenses and reducing inflammation. The study suggests that natural antioxidant compounds may offer protective benefits against the reproductive harm associated with microplastic exposure.
Combined effect of polystyrene nanoplastic and di-n-butyl phthalate on testicular health of male Swiss albino mice: analysis of sperm-related parameters and potential toxic effects
This mouse study found that combined exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and a common plasticizer chemical (DBP) caused worse damage to male reproductive health than either substance alone. The combination significantly reduced sperm quality, lowered antioxidant defenses, and damaged testicular tissue over 60 days. These findings are concerning because people are often exposed to both nanoplastics and plasticizer chemicals at the same time through food packaging and everyday products.
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.
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.
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.
Adverse effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on the reproductive system: A comprehensive review of fertility and potential harmful interactions
This review summarizes how microplastics and nanoplastics can harm both male and female reproductive systems by disrupting hormone signaling, damaging sperm and egg cells, and causing inflammation in reproductive tissues. Smaller nanoplastics are especially concerning because they can cross biological barriers more easily and reach the testes and ovaries. With global infertility rates rising, the authors highlight environmental plastic exposure as a factor that deserves more research attention.