Effect of Polystyrene Microplastics on Viability and Testosterone Production of TM3 Leydig Cells in vitro

Abstract

The spread of microplastic particles in the human environment is ubiquitous and thus can be found in rivers, sediments, sand beaches, soil, and also in drinking water. MPs have the ability to transition through the food chain from lower to higher nutritional levels, endangering human health in the process. Altogether, increased concentrations of MPs have been shown to have negative impacts on mammals, including decreased feeding activity, body condition, oxidative damage, intestinal barrier malfunction, inflammation, neurotoxicity, energy disruption, and last but not least, reproductive toxicity. Industrialization, which leads to a considerable release of synthetic, frequently hazardous xenobiotics (such as microplastics and pesticides) into the environment, is linked to the notable decline in the reproductive rate, reflected by the decline in gamete quality. Male mice's testicles and sperm may be affected by polystyrene microplastics (PS-MP), which is apparent by a decline in the quantity of spermatogenic cells, a disruption in their structure, and a decrease in the activity of enzymes linked to sperm metabolism. In our study, we used polystyrene microplastics as a treatment addition for the TM3 Leydig cells. Methodology tests consisted of viability assays – Alamar Blue and MTT. Afterwards, we used the ELISA method to evaluate testosterone production.