The Impact of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Ovarian Reserve and Placental Function: From Epigenetic Alterations to Clinical Pregnancy Outcomes

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants recently detected in human follicular fluid, placental tissue, and fetal membranes. This congress paper synthesizes current mechanistic evidence demonstrating that MNPs act as potent reproductive toxicants through two interconnected pathological axes. In the ovary, MNPs induce granulosa cell pyroptosis, ovarian fibrosis, and steroidogenic dysregulation, ultimately depleting the finite follicular reserve. In the placenta, MNPs impair trophoblast syncytialization, inhibit extravillous trophoblast invasion, and trigger ferroptosis, leading to placental insufficiency. Epigenetic modifications, including aberrant DNA methylation and histone remodeling, serve as central mediators of these effects and potentially facilitate transgenerational transmission. Clinical data increasingly correlate placental MNP burden with spontaneous miscarriage, fetal growth restriction, and preterm delivery. This review establishes an integrated framework linking environmental exposure to adverse obstetrical outcomes and underscores the urgent need for regulatory intervention and prospective human biomonitoring.

کلیدواژه ها:

Microplastics ، Nanoplastics ، Ovarian Reserve ، Placental Function ، Epigenetics.