Maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics leads to ovotoxicity in female mouse offspring.

Polystyrene nanoplastics (nPS) have been involved in male reproductive health by inducing testicular damage in offspring. However, whether nPS exposure affects reproductive development in female offspring remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effects of maternal nPS exposure on ovarian development in offspring. 31 ICR mice were orally administered normal drinking water (control group) or nPS at concentrations of 0.1 µg/ml, 1 µg/ml, and 10 µg/ml in normal drinking water for 11 consecutive weeks, encompassing the pre-mating, mating, pregnancy, and lactation periods. The results showed that there were no significant changes in litter size and live litter rate when exposed female mice were delivered. Notably, maternal nPS exposure significantly reduced ovarian weight and follicle number in offspring, suggesting the adverse effects of nPS on ovarian development in female offspring. Additionally, Sod1 and Gpx1 mRNA expressions were dramatically downregulated in nPS-exposed offspring, suggesting an increased risk of oxidative damage to the ovaries. This study indicated that maternal nPS exposure exhibited ovotoxic effects on female offspring, and provided a theoretical foundation for investigating nPS-induced damage to female reproductive health. Furthermore, these findings will offer valuable insights into the field of environmental health.