What are the sources of microplastics affecting male fertility?
Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive environmental pollutants that have been shown to adversely affect male fertility through various mechanisms. These MPs originate from the degradation of larger plastic debris due to environmental factors such as sunlight, wind, and wave action, breaking down into particles less than 5 mm in diameter that can enter the food chain and accumulate in human tissues.
Studies have demonstrated that MPs can impair male reproductive health by causing oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis of testicular cells, and endocrine disruption, leading to decreased sperm vitality and abnormal testicular and sperm structure. Long-term exposure to environmentally relevant doses of MPs has been shown to decrease testicle relative weight, reduce sperm quality, and dysregulate lipid metabolism in offspring, indicating transgenerational effects.
Additionally, MPs have been found in the follicular fluid of women and domestic cows, suggesting that environmental exposure levels are sufficient to compromise reproductive functions. Experimental studies on rodents have shown that MPs can lead to alterations in testicular morphology, reductions in testosterone, LH, and FSH levels, and increased sperm abnormalities, with the underlying mechanism involving the downregulation of the LH-mediated LHR/cAMP/PKA/StAR pathway. Furthermore, MPs can disrupt the blood-testis barrier (BTB) integrity and induce apoptosis of spermatogenic cells through the activation of the MAPK-Nrf2 pathway, further contributing to male reproductive toxicity . Collectively, these findings highlight the significant impact of MPs on male fertility, emphasizing the need for further research and public health interventions to mitigate these risks.
Suggested readings:
About Author
