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

Microplastics (MPs) have raised health concerns in public for its potential reproductive toxicity. In this study, we subjected the Kunming mice to 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 mg/day polystyrene MPs (10 μm, PS-MPs) for 35 days, aiming to investigate the relevant male reproductive toxicity and latent molecular mechanism. The results showed the decreased sperm counts and motility, while the elevated sperm abnormality in PS-MPs-exposed mice. Testicular H&E staining displayed the vacuolization, atrophy, and even shedding of germ cells in seminiferous tubule. And the testosterone content in serum also decreased with PS-MPs treatment. Moreover, molecular analysis indicated that PS-MPs upregulated the expression trait factors for ERS (e.g., immunoglobulin-binding protein [BIP], inositol-requiring protein 1α [IRE1α], X-box-binding protein 1 splicing [XBP1s], Jun kinase [JNK], and the transcription of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) homologous protein [CHOP]) and downstream apoptotic modulator (e.g., Caspase-12, -9, and -3) in the testis. The steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), the testosterone synthetic initiator, was also downregulated. With the supplementation of ERS inhibitor, the MPs-induced testicular damage and decreased testosterone were improved to almost normal level. Overall, this study suggested that PS-MPs generate reproductive toxicity possibly via activating ERS and apoptosis signaling pathway.