Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induce male reproductive toxicity in mice by activating spermatogonium mitochondrial oxidative stress and apoptosis

A mouse study found that polystyrene microplastics significantly reduced sperm count and motility while increasing sperm deformities. The damage was caused by oxidative stress in the energy-producing mitochondria of sperm-forming cells, which triggered cell death -- raising concerns about microplastics' potential impact on male fertility.

2024 Chemico-Biological Interactions 38 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

Reproductive toxicity of polystyrene microplastics: In vivo experimental study on testicular toxicity in mice

Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene microplastics and examined the effects on male reproductive function. They found that microplastic exposure significantly reduced viable sperm count, increased sperm abnormalities, and caused structural damage to testicular tissue, suggesting that microplastics may pose risks to male fertility.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 437 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene microparticles exposures on spermatogenic cell differentiation and reproductive endpoints in male mice

Researchers found that very small polystyrene microplastics (0.1 micrometers) accumulated in mouse testicular tissue and sperm-producing cells, leading to reduced sperm quality and impaired reproductive function. The particles triggered oxidative stress and disrupted the normal process of sperm cell development. This study adds to growing evidence that microplastic exposure could contribute to male fertility problems in humans, particularly from the smallest particles that can penetrate reproductive tissues.

2025 Environmental Pollution 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Reproductive cytotoxic and genotoxic impact of polystyrene microplastic on Paracentrotus lividus spermatozoa

Researchers exposed sea urchin sperm to polystyrene microplastics and found that the particles reduced sperm viability and movement, caused DNA damage through oxidative stress, and physically stuck to sperm cells, clumping them together. These effects significantly impaired the sperm's ability to fertilize eggs. While this study focused on sea urchins, the reproductive toxicity of microplastics raises broader concerns about how plastic pollution in the environment may threaten fertility across many species, including potentially humans.

2024 Current Research in Toxicology 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics cause reproductive toxicity in male mice

Male mice exposed to polystyrene microplastics for six weeks showed significant reproductive damage, including reduced sperm count and motility, lower testosterone levels, and visible tissue damage in the testes. The microplastics caused oxidative stress and triggered cell death pathways in the reproductive tissue. These findings add to growing evidence that microplastic exposure could contribute to declining male fertility.

2024 Food and Chemical Toxicology 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Determination of Biological and Molecular Attributes Related to Polystyrene Microplastic-Induced Reproductive Toxicity and Its Reversibility in Male Mice

Researchers exposed male mice to polystyrene microplastics through drinking water and found that the particles caused mitochondrial damage in testicular tissue, including reduced membrane potential and disrupted energy production. This mitochondrial dysfunction led to decreased sperm quality, likely driven by oxidative stress. Importantly, the study found that sperm quality recovered after one to two spermatogenic cycles without further exposure, suggesting that reproductive toxicity from microplastics may be reversible.

2022 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastic exposure in mice: oxidative stress-induced testicular damage, AR gene suppression, and histopathological alterations

Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene microplastics at two different concentrations and observed significant impacts on reproductive health, including increased oxidative stress in testicular tissue. The study found elevated reactive oxygen species, reduced sperm count and motility, and suppression of androgen receptor gene expression. Evidence indicates that microplastic exposure may pose reproductive health risks by disrupting antioxidant defenses and damaging testicular cells.

2024 Journal of Experimental and Laboratory Medicine. 3 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

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 Presence of Microplastics in Human Semen and Their Associations with Semen Quality

Researchers found microplastics in 75% of human semen samples tested, with an average of 17 particles per gram, including 15 different plastic types. Notably, higher levels of polystyrene microplastics were associated with lower sperm concentration and reduced sperm motility. This is one of the first studies to directly link microplastic presence in human semen to poorer sperm quality, adding to growing concerns about plastics and male fertility.

2025 Toxics 8 citations
Article Tier 2

In Vitro Nano-Polystyrene Toxicity: Metabolic Dysfunctions and Cytoprotective Responses of Human Spermatozoa

Researchers investigated the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics (50 and 100 nm) on mature human sperm cell metabolism in vitro. The study found that smaller 50 nm particles showed higher toxicity, causing acrosomal damage, oxidative stress, DNA fragmentation, and decreased mitochondrial activity, while 100 nm particles primarily affected the acrosome, suggesting size-dependent impacts of nanoplastics on reproductive cell function.

2023 Biology 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induced male reproductive toxicity in mice

Researchers exposed male mice to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and found that the particles accumulated in testicular tissue and entered reproductive cells. After 28 days of exposure, sperm quality and testosterone levels declined, and tissue examination revealed disorganized sperm-producing cells and inflammation. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may pose risks to male reproductive health in mammals.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 607 citations
Article Tier 2

Examining the Relationship Between Polystyrene Microplastics and Male Fertility: Insights From an In Vivo Study and In Vitro Sertoli Cell Culture

This study found that polystyrene microplastics caused reproductive damage in male mice, disrupting the cells that support sperm development (Sertoli cells). The microplastics interfered with normal reproductive function in both live mice and cell cultures. These findings add to growing evidence that microplastic exposure could contribute to declining male fertility, a trend already observed in humans worldwide.

2024 Journal of Korean Medical Science 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Prenatal and postnatal exposure to polystyrene microplastics induces testis developmental disorder and affects male fertility in mice

Researchers exposed pregnant mice and their offspring to polystyrene microplastics from gestation through early life and found significant disruption to testicular development and male reproductive function. The exposed males showed reduced sperm quality, lower testosterone levels, and structural damage to testicular tissue. The study suggests that early-life microplastic exposure may have lasting effects on male fertility.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 116 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the Biological Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Spermatogenesis: Insights From Transcriptomic Analysis in Mouse Spermatocytes

Researchers exposed mouse spermatocytes to polystyrene nanoplastics and observed membrane disruption, mitochondrial damage, increased oxidative stress, and DNA damage within 24 hours. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 134 genes with altered expression, many linked to critical reproductive processes like sperm development and mitochondrial organization. The study suggests that nanoplastic exposure may interfere with male reproductive health at the cellular and genetic level.

2024 International Journal of Toxicology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics are detected in bull epididymal sperm and polystyrene microparticles impair sperm fertilization

Researchers found microplastics in all bull sperm samples tested, and when they exposed bovine sperm to polystyrene particles at concentrations matching those found naturally, the sperm's ability to fertilize eggs dropped significantly. Embryos produced from the exposed sperm also showed increased cell death and oxidative damage. This is one of the first studies to demonstrate that microplastics at levels already present in reproductive tissues can directly impair fertility.

2024 Biology of Reproduction 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Male reproductive toxicity of polystyrene microplastics: Study on the endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling pathway

Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene microplastics for 35 days and found significant male reproductive toxicity, including decreased sperm counts and motility, increased sperm abnormalities, and reduced testosterone levels. The microplastics caused structural damage to the seminiferous tubules and triggered endoplasmic reticulum stress in testicular tissue. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may impair male reproductive health through stress-related signaling pathways in the testes.

2022 Food and Chemical Toxicology 72 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
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

Microplastics are detected in bull and dog sperm and polystyrene microparticles impair sperm fertilization

This study found microplastic particles in the sperm of bulls and dogs for the first time, confirming that reproductive fluids are not shielded from plastic contamination. When bovine sperm was exposed to polystyrene microplastics at concentrations matching what was measured in the animals themselves, motility dropped and fertilization success declined, with resulting embryos showing higher levels of oxidative stress and cell death. These findings raise serious concerns about microplastics as a contributing factor to the global decline in male fertility across mammalian species, including humans.

2023 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic tableware use, microplastic accumulation, and sperm quality: from epidemiological evidence to FOXA1/p38 mechanistic insights

Researchers analyzed 200 human semen samples and detected microplastics in over 55 percent of them, with polystyrene and PVC being the most common types. Frequent use of plastic tableware was significantly associated with higher microplastic accumulation in semen and reduced sperm quality. Animal experiments confirmed the mechanism, showing that polystyrene microplastics trigger a specific molecular pathway that leads to cell death in sperm-producing cells.

2025 Journal of Nanobiotechnology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induced spermatogenesis disorder via disrupting mitochondrial function through the regulation of the Sirt1-Pgc1α signaling pathway in male mice

Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics of different sizes affect sperm development in male mice and found that exposure decreased sperm motility and caused structural abnormalities. The microplastics disrupted mitochondrial function in reproductive cells by interfering with a key energy regulation pathway. The study provides evidence that microplastic exposure may contribute to male reproductive health problems through mitochondrial damage.

2024 Environmental Pollution 6 citations