Hwang Yi-Yuh, Sudirman Sabri, Wei En-Yu, Shiu Ruei-Feng, Kong Zwe-Ling, Hwang Deng-Fwu
Department of Food Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan.
Department of Fisheries Product Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sriwijaya, Indralaya 30662, Indonesia.
Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Jun 15;26(12):5735. doi: 10.3390/ijms26125735.
The use of plastic products has increased, leading to higher levels of plastic pollution, and it is becoming a major public health concern. Health risks-especially those related to reproductive system dysfunction caused by polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs)-are emerging issues that require urgent attention. This study aimed to investigate the effects of erinacine A-enriched mycelium (HE) on high-fat-diet- and PS-MP-induced reproductive system dysfunction in male rats. Reproductive dysfunction was induced by administering a high-fat diet followed by exposure to PS-MPs for six weeks. The results showed that HE treatment significantly reduced nitric oxide levels and enhanced glutathione peroxidase activity. Furthermore, HE supplementation significantly downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β. Additionally, HE treatment significantly increased Kiss1 concentration, upregulated follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone levels, reduced the area of the seminiferous tubule lumen, and prevented a reduction in epithelial thickness. HE treatment also significantly increased sperm count and reduced sperm abnormalities. Based on these findings, HE supplementation helps prevent reproductive system dysfunction by reducing oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, erinacine A-enriched mycelium could be considered a potential food supplement or functional food ingredient for the treatment of reproductive or testicular dysfunction.
塑料制品的使用有所增加，导致塑料污染水平升高，这正成为一个主要的公共卫生问题。健康风险——尤其是那些与聚苯乙烯微塑料（PS-MPs）导致的生殖系统功能障碍相关的风险——是需要紧急关注的新出现问题。本研究旨在调查富含齿孔酸A的菌丝体（HE）对高脂饮食和PS-MP诱导的雄性大鼠生殖系统功能障碍的影响。通过给予高脂饮食，随后暴露于PS-MPs六周来诱导生殖功能障碍。结果表明，HE处理显著降低了一氧化氮水平并增强了谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性。此外，补充HE显著下调了促炎细胞因子，如白细胞介素（IL）-6和IL-1β。另外，HE处理显著增加了Kiss1浓度，上调了促卵泡激素和睾酮水平，减小了生精小管管腔面积，并防止上皮厚度减小。HE处理还显著增加了精子数量并减少了精子异常。基于这些发现，补充HE有助于通过减少氧化应激和促炎细胞因子来预防生殖系统功能障碍。因此，富含齿孔酸A的菌丝体可被视为治疗生殖或睾丸功能障碍的潜在食品补充剂或功能性食品成分。
