Polystyrene nanoplastics induced transgenerational reproductive toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans through enhanced DNA damage accompanied by DNA repair inhibition

Microplastics (MPs) are omnipresent environmental pollutants posing potential impacts on organisms. To explore the transgenerational effects of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) and the molecular mechanisms at environmental relevant concentrations, Caenorhabditis elegans (C.elegans) was applied as an in vivo model. Worms were incubated with PS-NPs at environmental concentrations from L1 larvae stage, while subsequent generations (F1 −F3) were maintained under non-exposure condition. Reproductive potential was estimated based on brood size, fertilized eggs, oocytes, and germline apoptosis. Results indicated that PS-NPs induced transgenerational toxicity in inhibiting reproductive ability, impairing gonad development, and promoting germline apoptosis. And these adverse effects were associated with dysregulated expression of apoptosis-related genes. Furthermore, DNA damage was participated in enhancing germline apoptosis through activating DNA damage checkpoint kinase ATL-1 and p53 ortholog CEP-1. Additionally, PS-NPs reduced the expression of DNA recombination repair protein RAD-51 across generations. This study demonstrates that reproductive toxicity evoked by PS-NPs can be transmitted to offspring by inducing DNA damage through activating ATL-1 and CEP-1, while simultaneously inhibiting DNA repair.