Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41301402›Full record

ArticleBiomolecules2025

Protective Effects and Potential Mechanisms of D-Aspartate on Testicular Damage Induced by Polystyrene Microplastics.

Sara Falvo, Giulia Grillo, Imed Messaoudi, Nada Fradi, Gabriella Chieffi Baccari, Maria Maddalena Di Fiore, Alessandra Biasi, Maria Rosaria Ambruosi, Alessandra Santillo, Massimo Venditti

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Biomolecules, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Sara FalvoDipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Via Vivaldi, 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy.
Giulia GrilloDipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Via Vivaldi, 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy.
Imed MessaoudiLR11ES41: Génétique, Biodiversité et Valorisation des Bioressources, Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie, Université de Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia.ORCID 0000-0002-4025-8765
Nada FradiLR11ES41: Génétique, Biodiversité et Valorisation des Bioressources, Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie, Université de Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia.ORCID 0009-0000-6299-0167
Gabriella Chieffi BaccariDipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Via Vivaldi, 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy.
Maria Maddalena Di FioreDipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Via Vivaldi, 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-4673-6729
Alessandra BiasiDipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sez. Fisiologia Umana e Funzioni Biologiche Integrate, Università degli Studi della Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Via Santa Maria di Costantinopoli, 16, 80138 Napoli, Italy.ORCID 0009-0008-2742-1995
Maria Rosaria AmbruosiDipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sez. Fisiologia Umana e Funzioni Biologiche Integrate, Università degli Studi della Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Via Santa Maria di Costantinopoli, 16, 80138 Napoli, Italy.ORCID 0009-0009-0193-4634
Alessandra SantilloDipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Via Vivaldi, 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy.
Massimo VendittiDipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sez. Fisiologia Umana e Funzioni Biologiche Integrate, Università degli Studi della Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Via Santa Maria di Costantinopoli, 16, 80138 Napoli, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-7357-5353

Funding

Italian Ministry of University and Research (PRIN 2020) Grant 20204YRYS5
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Polystyrene Microplastics (PS-MPs) affect testicular activity, as evidenced by increased oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy activation, impairing steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis. The present study investigates, for the first time in vivo, the potential protective effect of D-aspartate (D-Asp) against PS-MPs-induced damage on the testicular function of adult rats. D-Asp, well-known stimulator of testosterone biosynthesis and spermatogenesis progression, possesses pharmacological properties, including antioxidant and anti-apoptotic ones. The results showed that PS-MP's adverse effects on testicular activity were reversed by D-Asp treatment. Mechanistically, D-Asp inhibited testicular oxidative stress by modulating the protein levels of CAT, SOD1, SOD2, and 4-HNE; affecting TBARS levels; and reducing apoptosis, as suggested by CYT C analysis and a TUNEL assay. Furthermore, D-Asp administration mitigated PS-MPs-induced autophagy activation by modulating the expression of LC3BI, LC3BII, and p62 proteins. Finally, the amino acid counteracts PS-MPs damage on steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis by restoring normal levels of steroidogenic (StAR, 3β-HSD, and 17β-HSD) and spermatogenic (PCNA and SYCP3) markers. This study encourages further research to understand the potential value of the amino acid in improving human testicular health and male fertility.

Indexed as

D-Aspartic AcidMicroplasticsPolystyrenesTestisAnimalsAntioxidantsApoptosisAutophagyMaleOxidative StressRatsSpermatogenesisAntioxidantsD-Aspartic AcidMicroplasticsPolystyrenesapoptosisautophagyD-aspartateoxidative stressPolystyrene Microplasticsreproductionspermatogenesissteroidogenesis

Identifiers

PMID41301402
PMCPMC12650146

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.