Microplastics (MPs) exposure impairs porcine oocyte quality by triggering oxidative stress-directed DNA damage and apoptosis with metabolomic alterations
Microplastics (MPs) are widely present in the environment, and their potential hazards to human health are increasingly a concern. This study aims to investigate the specific impact of MPs on the female reproductive system, particularly on the meiotic maturation of mammalian oocytes. We found that M...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325008012 |
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| author | Zhaokang Cui Jianli Zhang Jun Zhang Jifeng Zhong Jiaqi Wu Yilong Miao Huili Wang |
| author_facet | Zhaokang Cui Jianli Zhang Jun Zhang Jifeng Zhong Jiaqi Wu Yilong Miao Huili Wang |
| author_sort | Zhaokang Cui |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microplastics (MPs) are widely present in the environment, and their potential hazards to human health are increasingly a concern. This study aims to investigate the specific impact of MPs on the female reproductive system, particularly on the meiotic maturation of mammalian oocytes. We found that MPs exposure significantly reduced the quality of porcine oocytes, manifested as obstacles in the extrusion of polar bodies, abnormalities in spindle and chromosome structure, and alterations in cortical actin distribution. Through metabolomic analysis, we observed that MPs exposure led to a decrease in the levels of choline and creatine metabolism, both of which play crucial roles in maintaining cell structure and energy metabolism. These changes further impacted mitochondrial function, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction and an increase in oxidative stress levels within the oocytes. This not only depleted the intracellular antioxidant glutathione but also disrupted the redox balance within the oocytes. The reduction in glutathione (GSH) exacerbated the cell’s sensitivity to oxidative damage, leading to DNA damage and apoptosis. These results indicate that MPs disrupt the redox balance of oocytes by interfering with choline and creatine metabolism and by reducing glutathione levels, thereby adversely affecting oocyte maturation. This study not only reveals the mechanisms of reproductive toxicity of MPs on porcine oocyte maturation but also provides new insights into the potential risks of MPs to female reproductive health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-16fafa85b6424d0a996d3d18e4537afd |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj-art-16fafa85b6424d0a996d3d18e4537afd2025-08-20T03:20:04ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-07-0130011846110.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118461Microplastics (MPs) exposure impairs porcine oocyte quality by triggering oxidative stress-directed DNA damage and apoptosis with metabolomic alterationsZhaokang Cui0Jianli Zhang1Jun Zhang2Jifeng Zhong3Jiaqi Wu4Yilong Miao5Huili Wang6Institute of Animal Science, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Precision animal Breeding, Nanjing 210014, China; Key Laboratory of Crop and Animal Integrated Farming，Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, ChinaInstitute of Animal Science, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Precision animal Breeding, Nanjing 210014, China; Key Laboratory of Crop and Animal Integrated Farming，Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, ChinaInstitute of Animal Science, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Precision animal Breeding, Nanjing 210014, China; Key Laboratory of Crop and Animal Integrated Farming，Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, ChinaInstitute of Animal Science, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Precision animal Breeding, Nanjing 210014, China; Key Laboratory of Crop and Animal Integrated Farming，Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Corresponding author.Institute of Animal Science, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Precision animal Breeding, Nanjing 210014, China; Key Laboratory of Crop and Animal Integrated Farming，Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing 210014, China; Corresponding author at: Institute of Animal Science, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China.Microplastics (MPs) are widely present in the environment, and their potential hazards to human health are increasingly a concern. This study aims to investigate the specific impact of MPs on the female reproductive system, particularly on the meiotic maturation of mammalian oocytes. We found that MPs exposure significantly reduced the quality of porcine oocytes, manifested as obstacles in the extrusion of polar bodies, abnormalities in spindle and chromosome structure, and alterations in cortical actin distribution. Through metabolomic analysis, we observed that MPs exposure led to a decrease in the levels of choline and creatine metabolism, both of which play crucial roles in maintaining cell structure and energy metabolism. These changes further impacted mitochondrial function, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction and an increase in oxidative stress levels within the oocytes. This not only depleted the intracellular antioxidant glutathione but also disrupted the redox balance within the oocytes. The reduction in glutathione (GSH) exacerbated the cell’s sensitivity to oxidative damage, leading to DNA damage and apoptosis. These results indicate that MPs disrupt the redox balance of oocytes by interfering with choline and creatine metabolism and by reducing glutathione levels, thereby adversely affecting oocyte maturation. This study not only reveals the mechanisms of reproductive toxicity of MPs on porcine oocyte maturation but also provides new insights into the potential risks of MPs to female reproductive health.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325008012Porcine oocyteMeiosisMitochondriaOxidative stressMPs |
| spellingShingle | Zhaokang Cui Jianli Zhang Jun Zhang Jifeng Zhong Jiaqi Wu Yilong Miao Huili Wang Microplastics (MPs) exposure impairs porcine oocyte quality by triggering oxidative stress-directed DNA damage and apoptosis with metabolomic alterations Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Porcine oocyte Meiosis Mitochondria Oxidative stress MPs |
| title | Microplastics (MPs) exposure impairs porcine oocyte quality by triggering oxidative stress-directed DNA damage and apoptosis with metabolomic alterations |
| title_full | Microplastics (MPs) exposure impairs porcine oocyte quality by triggering oxidative stress-directed DNA damage and apoptosis with metabolomic alterations |
| title_fullStr | Microplastics (MPs) exposure impairs porcine oocyte quality by triggering oxidative stress-directed DNA damage and apoptosis with metabolomic alterations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microplastics (MPs) exposure impairs porcine oocyte quality by triggering oxidative stress-directed DNA damage and apoptosis with metabolomic alterations |
| title_short | Microplastics (MPs) exposure impairs porcine oocyte quality by triggering oxidative stress-directed DNA damage and apoptosis with metabolomic alterations |
| title_sort | microplastics mps exposure impairs porcine oocyte quality by triggering oxidative stress directed dna damage and apoptosis with metabolomic alterations |
| topic | Porcine oocyte Meiosis Mitochondria Oxidative stress MPs |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325008012 |
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