Cited by 105Microplastics and Plastic PollutionEffects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicalsPharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts

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Developmental and reproductive toxic effects of exposure to microplastics: A review of associated signaling pathways

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Dubey, Itishree, Khan, Sabbir, Kushwaha, Sapana·2022·Frontiers in Toxicology

DOI 10.3389/ftox.2022.901798PMC PMC9471315

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Abstract

Microplastics (MPs), small pieces of plastic (∼5 mm), are released into the environment not only as a result of the decomposition of large-sized plastics but also from day-to-day use of plastic products. Chronic exposure to MPs has been attributed to harmful effects on aquatic organisms and rodents. Effects include gastrointestinal toxicity, hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and reproductive and developmental toxicities. Exposure to MPs may also potentially affect human health. Herein, we reviewed the impact of MPs on male and female reproductive systems and the associated mechanisms involved in the reproductive and developmental toxicities of MPs. We performed a literature search in Google Scholar and PubMed using the following keywords: MPs and reproductive toxicity; MPs and developmental studies; MPs and infertility; MPs and aquatics; and MPs and rodents. Evidence of MPs accumulation has been reported in many organs of humans and experimental models. The harmful effects of MPs have been manifested in male and female reproductive systems of mammalian and aquatic animals, including developmental effects on gametes, embryos, and their offspring. This review describes various signaling pathways involved in MPs-associated male and female reproductive and developmental toxicities.

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FIGURE 1 Schematic diagram showing microplastics affecting male and female reproductive functions: Microplastics affecting male reproductive functions via the activation of different signaling pathways, Akt/mTOR, apoptosis, MAPK, and inhibition of cAMP/PK3 that results in increased oxidative stress, BTB disruption, and spermatogenesis dysfunction and decrease in steroidogenic enzymes and LHR downregulation. Microplastics affecting the female reproductive functions altered by the activation of NLRP3, TLR4/NOX2, and TGF-β/fibrogenesis that results in increased oxidative stress, endometrial thinning, collagen deposition, inflammatory markers, and pyroptosis and apoptosis of granulosa cells while ovarian reserve, growing follicles, granulosa cells capacity, and anti-müllerian hormone levels are decreased. Abbreviations: cAMP, cyclic adenosine monophosphate; AKT, Ak strain transforming; BTB, blood–testes barrier; LHR, luteinizing hormone receptor; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin; NOX-2, NADPH oxidase-2; NLRP3, nod-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3; PKA, protein kinase A; StAR, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein; TGF-β, transforming growth factor-β; TLR4, toll-like receptor-4.CC BY · PubMed Central

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1 retracted

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Authors: Dubey, I., Khan, S., & Kushwaha, S.
Affiliations: National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (IN)
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (US)
Corresponding author: Kushwaha, Sapana
ORCID: Dubey, Itishree
Khan, Sabbir
Kushwaha, Sapana
Venue: Frontiers in Toxicology
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Published: 2022-08-31
Volume: 4
Pages: 901798-901798
ISSN: 2673-3080 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.901798
PMC: PMC9471315
OpenAlex: W4293767673
Cited by: 105
References: 80
Citations by year: 2026: 25 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 2
FWCI: 1.14
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: gold
doi.org
Licence: cc-by
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (vor)
Locations: Frontiers in Toxicology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics: Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
Keywords: microplastics, reproductive toxicity, developmental toxicity, signaling pathways, male reproductive toxicity, female reproductive toxicity, infertility, aquatic organisms, rodents, plastic exposure, human health

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Developmental and reproductive toxic effects of exposure to microplastics: A review of associated signaling pathways

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