The mouse model of induced sperm DNA damage caused by polystyrene microplastics exhibited distinct transcriptomic and proteomic features.

Abstract

Polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) are extensively utilized in plastic goods worldwide. The ingestion of PS-MPs has resulted in a high rate of DNA fragmentation index (DFI), which can potentially result in infertility and recurrent spontaneous abortion. This study established and characterized a mouse model of polystyrene microplastic (PS-MP)-induced sperm DNA damage (DnaD), and concurrently analyzed the associated transcriptomic and proteomic profiles. Over a period of 60 days, male mice assigned to the PS group were given PS-MPs at a dose of 1 mg/kg/d while the control group was administered an equivalent volume of normal saline. Sperm DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI) was then assessed using the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA).The testis was examined using RNA-seq and data-independent acquisition (DIA) to detect the patterns of mRNA and protein expression. The PS group exhibited an significant increase in the sperm DFI. Compared with the control group, 874 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 164 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified in the PS group. These included Agt, Gstt1, Fetub, Akr1c12, Eln, Gaa, Ppic and Ltbp2. The PI3K/Akt and metabolic pathways exhibited significant enrichment of these genes. After a 60-day period of intragastric injection, our findings indicated that the administration of PS-MPs at a 1 mg/kg/d dosage can lead to DnaD in the sperm of male mice. The metabolic and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways could be associated with the reproductive toxicity of PS-MPs. SUMMARY SENTENCE: The intake of PS-MPs mainly reduces DFI in mice via the metabolic and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways.