Concentrated ambient fine particles exposure affects ovarian follicle development in mice

Background: Ambient fine particles (PM2.5) are known to cause various reproductive and developmental diseases. However, the potential mechanisms of PM2.5 exposure induced female reproductive damage remain unclear. Methods: Four weeks old female C57BL/6 J mice were exposed to filtered air (FA, n = 10) or concentrated ambient PM2.5 (CAP, n = 10) using a versatile aerosol concentration enrichment system. After 9 weeks of the exposure, mice were sacrificed under sevoflurane anesthesia and tissue samples were collected. Immunohistochemical analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and RNA sequencing were performed to analyze the effects of PM2.5 exposure on follicle development and elucidate its potential mechanisms. Results: Chronic PM2.5 exposure resulted in follicular dysplasia. Compared to the FA-exposed group, follicular atresia in the CAP-exposed mice were significantly increased. Further studies confirmed that CAP induced apoptosis in granulosa cells, accompanied by a distortion of hormone homeostasis. In addition, RNA-sequencing data demonstrated that CAP exposure induced the alteration of ovarian gene expressions and was associated with inflammatory response. Conclusions: Chronic exposure to CAP can induce follicular atresia, which was associated with hormone modulation and inflammation.

Automated summary

This study found that chronic exposure to PM2.5 can lead to follicular dysplasia, which is associated with hormone modulation and inflammation.