Toxicity of polystyrene nanoparticles for mouse ovary and cultured human granulosa cells

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 249; p. 114371
• Main Authors: Huang, Jin, Zou, Liping, Bao, Meng, Feng, Qiwen, Xia, Wei, Zhu, Changhong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.01.2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; COV434 cells; Female; Granulosa Cells - drug effects; Histology; Humans; Mice; Nano-PS; Nanoparticles - toxicity; Nrf2; Ovarian; Ovary - drug effects; Oxidative Stress; Polystyrenes - toxicity; Nano-PS; Oxidative stress; Ovarian; Histology; Nrf2; COV434 cells
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114371

The issue of global environmental contamination of microplastics has recently been receiving widespread attention. However, the effects of polystyrene nanoparticles (Nano-PS) on the female reproductive system remain unclear. We investigated the toxicity and explored the potential underlying mechanisms of Nano-PS in both mouse ovarian tissue in vivo and human ovarian granulosa cell lines in vitro. In vivo experiments: Mice were fed different concentrations of Nano-PS for 8 weeks. In vitro experiments: COV434 cells were treated with increasing concentrations of Nano-PS. In the present study, ovarian reserve was found to decrease significantly, while oxidative stress and apoptosis levels increased. Nano-PS increased the proportion of metestrum and diestrus periods, and decreased the proportion of estrous period. The implantation rates and the number of pups per litter decreased. In COV434 cells, Nano-PS reduced cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential, increased the expression of apoptotic and oxidative stress markers and led to subsequent cell cycle arrest. Specifically, Nano-PS exert their toxic effects on mouse ovarian tissue and COV434 cells by inducing oxidative stress. A potential strategy to overcome this could be to activate the nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway to mitigate Nano-PS-induced oxidative stress. [Display omitted] •Nano-PS exposure reduces the growing follicle number and fertility in mice.•Nano-PS exposure on mice affects sex hormone and oxidation-antioxidant status.•Nano-PS exposure inhibited Nrf2 expression and increase apoptosis in mouse ovaries.•Nrf2 plays a protective role against Nano-PS-induced oxidative stress.