Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Palliative effect of taurine against hepatic injury induced by polystyrene microplastics through antioxidant and metabolic pathway modulation in mice

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics caused liver damage in an animal model through oxidative stress and lipid metabolic disruption, and that taurine supplementation exerted a protective effect by modulating oxidative and metabolic pathways. The results support taurine as a potential therapeutic agent for microplastic-induced hepatotoxicity.

2025 Frontiers in Pharmacology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics exposure causes premature ovarian aging via inducing mitochondrial dysfunction

Researchers found that microplastic exposure in mice accelerated ovarian aging, characterized by increased expression of aging markers, elevated fibrosis, and inflammatory damage. The microplastics caused mitochondrial dysfunction that reduced ovarian reserve and compromised oocyte quality and embryo development. Notably, supplementation with the amino acid L-arginine significantly mitigated the aging effects, suggesting a potential protective strategy for reproductive health against microplastic exposure.

2025 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Taurine Mitigates Microplastic-Induced Neurotoxicity Through Modulation of Neurobehavior, Neurotransmitters, Oxidative Stress, and AKT-1/CREB-1/BDNF Signaling in Mice

Researchers exposed mice to microplastics for 60 days and documented pronounced anxiety, memory impairment, elevated oxidative stress, and disrupted dopamine and GABA signaling, then showed that co-treatment with taurine—an amino acid—substantially reversed these neurotoxic effects by restoring antioxidant capacity and BDNF expression.

2026 Molecular Neurobiology
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
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in ovarian function and ozone-based mitigation strategies: Emerging evidence and translational implications

This review synthesized emerging evidence that microplastics accumulate in human follicular fluid, oocytes, placenta, and semen, causing oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and meiotic disruption in reproductive cells, and discussed ozone-based strategies as potential mitigation approaches.

2025 Current Research in Toxicology
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

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

Researchers detected microplastics in follicular fluid from both women and cows and showed that polystyrene microplastics disrupt oocyte development, providing the first evidence that microplastics can penetrate reproductive barriers and potentially contribute to the global decline in fertility.

2023 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics impact on cardiac and pulmonary physiology and microenvironment in a mouse model: Role of taurine supplementation and molecular docking insights

Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene microplastics on heart and lung tissues in mice and found that exposure disrupted antioxidant defenses, increased lipid peroxidation, and elevated cardiac injury markers and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Microplastic exposure also upregulated inflammatory and pyroptotic gene expression in both tissues. Co-administration of taurine significantly ameliorated these alterations, suggesting it may offer protective effects against microplastic-induced cardiopulmonary damage.

2026 Tissue and Cell
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

Microplastics and nanoplastics in follicular fluid are associated with diminished ovarian reserve: clinical and molecular insights

Researchers found that microplastics and nanoplastics present in follicular fluid are associated with diminished ovarian reserve in women. The study provides evidence suggesting that exposure to these particles may harm female ovarian function. The findings point to the environment-gut-ovarian axis as a potential pathway through which micro- and nanoplastic exposure could contribute to reproductive health concerns.

2026 Journal of Advanced Research
Article Tier 2

Exposição De Microplásticos E Nanoplásticos Ao Tecido Ovariano: Uma Revisão Integrativa

This integrative review examines the impact of micro- and nanoplastics on female ovarian tissue, synthesizing animal model studies showing damage to follicular structures, increased oxidative stress, and disrupted reproductive hormone signaling.

2025 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Implication of nano and microplastics in reproduction: understanding oocyte vulnerability

This review examined how nano- and microplastics (NMPs) compromise oocyte quality and female reproductive function, finding that NMPs trigger oxidative stress, disrupt meiotic spindle assembly, impair mitochondrial function, and cause DNA damage in eggs. The findings identified the oocyte as particularly vulnerable to NMP exposure, with implications for fertility and reproductive health.

2024 Research Innovation Views Embryology Reproduction.
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

Exposição De Microplásticos E Nanoplásticos Ao Tecido Ovariano: Uma Revisão Integrativa

This integrative review (in Portuguese) examines published evidence on the effects of micro- and nanoplastic exposure on female ovarian tissue morphology, finding disrupted folliculogenesis, oxidative stress, and hormonal interference reported across animal model studies.

2025 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Testicular mitochondrial redox imbalance and impaired oxidative phosphorylation underlie microplastic-induced testicular dysfunction in Wistar rats

Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics affect male reproductive function in rats by examining testicular mitochondrial health. The study found that microplastic exposure disrupted mitochondrial redox balance and impaired oxidative phosphorylation in testicular tissue, providing mechanistic evidence for how microplastics may contribute to male reproductive toxicity.

2026 Frontiers in Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Associations between concentrations of microplastics in follicular fluid and the risk of diminished ovarian reserve

Researchers conducted a case-control study comparing microplastic levels in follicular fluid of patients with diminished ovarian reserve versus controls. Total microplastic abundance was significantly higher in the diminished ovarian reserve group (30.63 vs. 18.48 micrograms per gram), and elevated levels of polyethylene, polypropylene, and PVC were associated with reduced markers of ovarian function.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 citations
Clinical Trial Tier 1

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.

2024 Ecotoxicology and environmental safety
Article Tier 2

Microplastics induced endocrine disruption, alteration in testicular tissue in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) pre-fed on Amphora coffeaeformis

Researchers found that microplastic exposure caused hormonal disruption, reduced sperm quality, and damaged testicular tissue in male tilapia fish, but pre-feeding the fish with a microalgae feed supplement partially protected against these reproductive harms. The study suggests that dietary interventions may help mitigate microplastic toxicity in fish farmed for human consumption.

2021 3 citations
Clinical Trial Tier 1

Taurine decreases arsenic and microplastic toxicity in broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.) through functional and microstructural alterations

Foliar application of taurine significantly reduced arsenic and microplastic toxicity in broccoli by boosting antioxidant enzyme activity, improving membrane integrity, and restoring anatomical structures. Plants treated with taurine showed less oxidative damage and lower arsenic uptake, suggesting taurine as a practical intervention for protecting crops grown in contaminated soil.

2025 BioMetals 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Tributyltin Oxide Exposure During in vitro Maturation Disrupts Oocyte Maturation and Subsequent Embryonic Developmental Competence in Pigs

Researchers found that tributyltin oxide (TBTO) exposure during in vitro maturation disrupts porcine oocyte maturation and impairs subsequent embryonic developmental competence, with effects mediated through mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress pathways.

2021 Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Size- and hydrophobicity-dependent accumulation of microplastics in follicular fluid is linked to impaired ovarian reserve in women undergoing medically assisted reproduction

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in follicular fluid and blood from women undergoing fertility treatment and found that nearly all samples contained microplastics. Higher microplastic concentrations in follicular fluid were significantly associated with reduced oocyte yield and lower odds of pregnancy, with evidence suggesting that certain hydrophobic polymers selectively accumulate in the ovary.

2026
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastics in human follicular fluid and assessment of their potential impact on mouse oocyte maturation in vitro

Scientists found microplastics in human follicular fluid, the liquid surrounding eggs in the ovaries, after analyzing samples from 19 women. When they tested how these particles affect egg development in mice, they found that certain types of microplastics reduced the ability of eggs to mature properly, raising concerns about potential effects on fertility.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics (MPs) exposure impairs porcine oocyte quality by triggering oxidative stress-directed DNA damage and apoptosis with metabolomic alterations

Researchers exposed pig egg cells (oocytes) to microplastics and found significant damage to their quality, including problems with cell division and chromosome structure. The microplastics disrupted important metabolic processes, leading to oxidative stress, DNA damage, and cell death. Since pig reproductive biology is similar to humans, these findings raise concerns that microplastic exposure could harm female fertility.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 5 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