Probiotics improve polystyrene microplastics-induced male reproductive toxicity in mice by alleviating inflammatory response.

As a new type of environmental pollutant, microplastics have been garnered increasing attention, especially in regard to their effects on the reproductive system. However, researchers have yet to report whether prevention and treatment measures exist for reproductive injury caused by microplastics. The aim of this study was therefore to explore the mechanism of spermatogenic injury induced by polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) and the intervention effect of probiotics based on the gut microbiota-testis axis.

Determination of Biological and Molecular Attributes Related to Polystyrene Microplastic-Induced Reproductive Toxicity and Its Reversibility in Male Mice.

Microplastics exist not only in the natural environment, but also in human tissue such as blood and even placenta. Polystyrene microplastic exposure can cause abnormal sperm quality in mice; however, the mechanism is unclear, and whether sperm abnormalities can be restored has not been reported. ICR mice were exposed to 5 μm polystyrene microplastics through the drinking water.

Polystyrene microplastics induce mitochondrial damage in mouse GC-2 cells.

Microplastics are widely distributed, such as oceans, rivers and the atmosphere, with many opportunities for human exposure and potential health risks. Polystyrene microplastic (PS-MPS) exposure has been found to cause sperm damage to mice; however, the mechanism by which this happens remains unclear. Here, GC-2 cells, a mouse spermatocyte line, were exposed to 5 µm PS-MPS to investigate mitochondrial damage.

Reproductive toxicity of polystyrene microplastics: In vivo experimental study on testicular toxicity in mice.

Microplastics (MPS) are widespread in our environment and have a potential impact on the reproductive development of humans and mammals. In this study, we evaluated the effect of 5 µm polystyrene microplastics(PS-MPS) on spermatogenesis in mice. The damage by PS-MPS to epididymal sperm was studied using blood cell counts.

Synergy of N-(3-oxohexanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone and tryptophan-like outer extracellular substances in granular sludge dominated by aerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria.

Nitrogen removal via nitrite is an energy-saving method for high-strength ammonia wastewater treatment. A better understanding of the formation of granular sludge dominated by aerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AerAOB) could facilitate the improved use of rapid sludge granulation for nitritation. In this study, AerAOB-dominated activated sludge (NAS) and granular sludge (NGS) produced different N-scyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs).

Inhibition of NF-κB activation improves insulin resistance of L6 cells.

To explore the role of NF-κB activation in the development of insulin resistance and investigate whether or not that the inhibition of NF-κB activation by PDTC will improve the insulin resistance of L6 cells exposed to HO. L6 cells were treated with HO, PDTC or both HO and PDTC for 4 hours. The uptake of glucose with stimulation of insulin, the expression of P38-MAPK, p- P38-MAPK, NF-κBp65, p- NF-κBp65, IRS-1, IRS-2, p-IRS-2, PI3K, IκBα, p- IκBα, caspase-8 and GLUT4, the production of ROS, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β as well as the apoptosis rate of L6 cells were determined and compared in L6 treated with HO alone or both HO and PDTC.

Cell adhesion, ammonia removal and granulation of autotrophic nitrifying sludge facilitated by N-acyl-homoserine lactones.

In this study, six N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) molecules (C6-HSL, C8-HSL, C10-HSL, 3-oxo-C6-HSL, 3-oxo-C8-HSL and 3-oxo-C10-HSL) were each dosed into a bioreactor and seeded using autotrophic nitrifying sludge (ANS). The effects of the AHLs on cell adhesion, nitrification and sludge granulation were investigated. The results indicated that the efficiencies of cell adhesion and ammonia removal both had a close correlation with the side chain length and β position substituent group of the AHLs.