Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
07:08

Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants

Published on: March 6, 2018

6.7K

Polylactic acid microplastic exposure induced male reproductive toxicity and decreased testosterone levels by

Zhencheng Fan1, Xinglong Wang2, Yunqi Wu1

  • 1School of Basic Medical Sciences & School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions for Nucleic Acid & Cell Fate Regulation, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.

Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
|February 9, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Polylactic acid microplastics (PLA-MPs) accumulate in testes, reducing testosterone by promoting Leydig cell senescence. Restoring autophagy and mitophagy reversed these effects, highlighting a key mechanism in male reproductive toxicity.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Toxicology
  • Reproductive Biology

Background:

  • Polylactic acid microplastics (PLA-MPs) are marketed as eco-friendly but raise health concerns.
  • Previous studies confirmed PLA-MP reproductive toxicity in males, but effects on testosterone remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of PLA-MPs on testosterone biosynthesis in male mammals.
  • To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of PLA-MP-induced reproductive toxicity.

Main Methods:

  • Male mice were administered low, medium, and high doses of PLA-MPs daily for 28 days.
  • Analyzed PLA-MP accumulation in testes, serum testosterone levels, Leydig cell senescence, autophagy, and mitophagy.

Main Results:

  • PLA-MPs accumulated in mouse testes, causing a dose-dependent decrease in serum testosterone.
  • Observed increased Leydig cell senescence, inhibited autophagy, and mitophagy.
  • Restoring autophagy and mitophagy ameliorated PLA-MP-induced Leydig cell senescence.

Conclusions:

  • PLA-MPs inhibit autophagy and mitophagy, leading to Leydig cell senescence.
  • This process subsequently reduces testosterone synthesis and secretion.
  • PLA-MPs pose a risk to male reproductive health through these mechanisms.
Keywords:
AutophagyMitophagyPolylactic acid microplasticsSenescenceTestosterone

More Related Videos

Assessment of Endothelial Cell Migration After Exposure to Toxic Chemicals07:07

Assessment of Endothelial Cell Migration After Exposure to Toxic Chemicals

Published on: July 10, 2015

9.1K
Techniques to Induce and Quantify Cellular Senescence06:51

Techniques to Induce and Quantify Cellular Senescence

Published on: May 1, 2017

35.1K

Related Concept Videos

Disorders of the Male Reproductive System01:20

Disorders of the Male Reproductive System

Men's health issues are increasingly recognized as significant, with several conditions posing common threats. Among these, testicular cancer is especially prevalent in younger men, particularly those aged 20 to 35 years. The disease often manifests as a painless mass in the testicles, sometimes accompanied by a sensation of heaviness or a dull ache.
Prostate disorders are another major concern. These conditions can impair urinary flow due to the prostate's location around the urethra....
5.1K
Accessory Ducts of the Male Reproductive System01:25

Accessory Ducts of the Male Reproductive System

The male reproductive system is a complex network of organs and tissues that work together to produce and transport sperm. The epididymis, vasa deferens, ejaculatory ducts, and urethra are the accessory ducts involved in sperm maturation and transportation. These ducts play a critical role in the production and transportation of sperm from the testes to the urethra, where it is then released during ejaculation.
The epididymis is a small, comma-shaped organ located at the back of each testicle....
3.3K
Accessory Glands of the Male Reproductive System01:16

Accessory Glands of the Male Reproductive System

The accessory ducts involved in sperm maturation and transportation include the epididymides, vasa deferentia, ejaculatory ducts, and urethra. These ducts play a critical role in the maturation, storage, and transportation of sperm from the testes to the urethra, where it is then released during ejaculation.
The epididymis is a small, comma-shaped organ located at the back of each testicle. The epididymis can be divided into three main parts: the head, body, and tail. The head of the epididymis...
3.7K
Replicative Cell Senescence02:15

Replicative Cell Senescence

Replicative cell senescence is a property of cells that allows them to divide a finite number of times throughout the organism's lifespan while preventing excessive proliferation. Replicative senescence is associated with the gradual loss of the telomere — short, repetitive DNA sequences found at the end of the chromosomes. Telomeres are bound by a group of proteins to form a protective cap on the ends of chromosomes. Embryonic stem cells express telomerase — an enzyme that adds...
4.4K
Reproductive Cloning01:27

Reproductive Cloning

Reproductive cloning is the process of producing a genetically identical copy—a clone—of an entire organism. While clones can be produced by splitting an early embryo—similar to what happens naturally with identical twins—cloning of adult animals is usually done by a process called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer
In SCNT, an egg cell is taken from an animal and its nucleus is removed, creating an enucleated egg. Then a somatic...
32.8K
Decreasing Function01:27

Decreasing Function

A decreasing function describes a relationship where the output consistently declines as the input increases. This means that for any two input values, if one is greater than the other, the corresponding output is smaller. Mathematically, a function f is decreasing on an interval I if for every x1 < x2​ in I, f (x1) > f (x2). This type of behavior is visually identified on a graph that slopes downward from left to right.The nature of a function can be analyzed by calculating...
309