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Reproductive and metabolic toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics in adult female Wistar rats: a mechanistic study

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Abstract

Microplastics, such as polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs), have become an emerging environmental hazard for animals and humans. Long-term exposure to PS-MPs has led to neurotoxicity, reproductive dysfunction, and carcinogenesis. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of sub-chronic exposure of PS-MPs on metabolic and reproductive functions in female rats. The PS-MPs were prepared by cryogenic technique. The PS-MPs were given orally to female Wistar rats for 45 days at 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg/day. The average PS-MPs’ size diameter was 876 nm. The PS-MPs administration resulted in a significant decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the liver and ovary. The effect of PS-MPs on reduced glutathione and lipid peroxidation in the liver and ovarian tissues of rats was statistically insignificant. The PS-MP exposure exhibited an increase in the levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein and decrease in high-density lipoprotein. The PS-MPs caused glucose intolerance and increase in insulin. Moreover, the PS-MP exposure increased follicle stimulating hormone, estradiol, and testosterone. Serum level of interleukin-6 and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) was elevated in animals treated with PS-MPs. The PS-MP exposed rats showed normal ovarian histology, but activated hepatic stellate cells and liver fibrosis. It is concluded that the sub-chronic exposure to PS-MPs resulted in metabolic and endocrine disruption in female rats through oxidative damage, hormonal imbalance, and chronic inflammation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Riphah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Riphah International University, Lahore, Pakistan

    Anam Saeed & Muhammad Furqan Akhtar

  2. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Ammara Saleem

  3. Department of Pharmacy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Bushra Akhtar

  4. Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical and Allied Health Sciences, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan

    Ali Sharif

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  1. Anam Saeed
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  2. Muhammad Furqan Akhtar
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Contributions

MFA contributed to the study’s conception and design. A. Saeed, A. Saleem, BA and A. Sharif performed the experiment and data analysis. MFA and A. Saleem wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All the authors approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Muhammad Furqan Akhtar.

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The study was certified by the Ethics Committee of Riphah International University, Lahore Reference No. REC/RIPS-LHR/2022/518. Furthermore, to minimize animal suffering, National Institute of Health (NIH) guidelines were followed for the experimental methodologies.

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Saeed, A., Akhtar, M.F., Saleem, A. et al. Reproductive and metabolic toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics in adult female Wistar rats: a mechanistic study. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 63185–63199 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-26565-6

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