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Liang J, Ji F, Wang H, Zhu T, Rubinstein J, Worthington R, Abdullah ALB, Tay YJ, Zhu C, George A, Li Y, Han M. Unraveling the threat: Microplastics and nano-plastics' impact on reproductive viability across ecosystems. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 913:169525. [PMID: 38141979 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution pervades both marine and terrestrial ecosystems, fragmenting over time into microplastics (MPs) and nano-plastics (NPs). These particles infiltrate organisms via ingestion, inhalation, and dermal absorption, predominantly through the trophic interactions. This review elucidated the impacts of MPs/NPs on the reproductive viability of various species. MPs/NPs lead to reduced reproduction rates, abnormal larval development and increased mortality in aquatic invertebrates. Microplastics cause hormone secretion disorders and gonadal tissue damage in fish. In addition, the fertilization rate of eggs is reduced, and the larval deformity rate and mortality rate are increased. Male mammals exposed to MPs/NPs exhibit testicular anomalies, compromised sperm health, endocrine disturbances, oxidative stress, inflammation, and granulocyte apoptosis. In female mammals, including humans, exposure culminates in ovarian and uterine deformities, endocrine imbalances, oxidative stress, inflammation, granulosa cell apoptosis, and tissue fibrogenesis. Rodent offspring exposed to MPs experience increased mortality rates, while survivors display metabolic perturbations, reproductive anomalies, and weakened immunity. These challenges are intrinsically linked to the transgenerational conveyance of MPs. The ubiquity of MPs/NPs threatens biodiversity and, crucially, jeopardizes human reproductive health. The current findings underscore the exigency for comprehensive research and proactive interventions to ameliorate the implications of these pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Liang
- Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang 11800, Malaysia
| | - Feng Ji
- Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Hong Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China
| | - Tian Zhu
- Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang 11800, Malaysia
| | - James Rubinstein
- College of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Richard Worthington
- School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford university, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Yi Juin Tay
- Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang 11800, Malaysia
| | - Chenxin Zhu
- Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang 11800, Malaysia.
| | - Andrew George
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, OX12JD, UK
| | - Yiming Li
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Mingming Han
- Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden, Penang 11800, Malaysia.
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Rong W, Chen Y, Xiong Z, Zhao H, Li T, Liu Q, Song J, Wang X, Liu Y, Liu S. Effects of combined exposure to polystyrene microplastics and 17α-Methyltestosterone on the reproductive system of zebrafish. Theriogenology 2024; 215:158-169. [PMID: 38070215 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) are important carriers of pollutants in water. 17α-Methyltestosterone (MT) is a synthetic environmental endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) with androgenic effects. To study the effects of PS-MPs and MT on zebrafish reproductive systems, zebrafish were exposed to 0 or 50 ng L-1 MT, 0.5 mg∙L-1 PS-MPs, or 50 ng∙L-1 MT + 0.5 mg∙L-1 PS-MPs for 21 d. The results showed that the different exposure reagents caused varying degrees of damage to the reproductive systems in zebrafish, with the extent of damage increasing as the exposure duration increased. Histological analysis of the gonads revealed that the ratio of mature oocytes and mature spermatozoa in the gonad decreased gradually with increased exposure time, with the ratio being Control > PS-MPs > MT > MT + PS-MPs in decreasing order. The results of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT‒PCR) showed that in female fish treated for 7 d, the expression of cyp11a mRNA was significantly reduced in all three treatment groups(MT, PS-MPs, and MT + PS-MPs), while in the group treated for 14 d with MT + PS-MPs, the expression of cyp19a1a and StAR mRNA was significantly increased. In male fish exposed for 21 d, the expression of cyp11a, cyp17a1, cyp19a1a, StAR, 3β-HSD, and 17β-HSD3 mRNA was significantly decreased in MT + PS-MPs. ELISA results showed that after 14 d of exposure, the levels of E2, LH, and FSH in the ovaries of female fish were significantly reduced in all three treatment groups. Similarly, the levels of T, E2, LH, and FSH in the testis of male fish were significantly reduced after 14 d of exposure to PS-MPs and MT + PS-MPs. Offspring of zebrafish exposed to MT and MT + PS-MPs exhibited delayed incubation time and slow development. The cross-generational toxicity of PS-MPs themselves may be negligible, but it can exacerbate the toxicity of MT, making the cross-generational effects more pronounced in the offspring, causing offspring mortality and malformations. Offspring of zebrafish exposed to MT and MT + PS-MPs exhibited delayed incubation time and slow development. In addition, MT caused malformations such as pericardial edema, yolk cysts, and spinal deformities in zebrafish during the incubation period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiya Rong
- College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, China
| | - Yue Chen
- College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, China
| | - Zijun Xiong
- College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, China
| | - Haiyan Zhao
- College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, China
| | - Tongyao Li
- College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, China
| | - Qing Liu
- College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, China
| | - Jing Song
- College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, China
| | - Xianzong Wang
- College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, China
| | - Yu Liu
- College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, China
| | - Shaozhen Liu
- College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, 030801, China; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics Resource Utilization and Breeding, Jinzhong, 030801, China.
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