en عمومى General پژوهشي Research <span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><b><span style="color:#2d73b4">Background: </span></b>The increasing global production of plastics has led to widespread environmental contamination, including airborne microplastics capable of entering the respiratory tract, reaching systemic circulation, and inducing oxidative stress. This study aimed to assess the reproductive toxicity of sub-acute inhalation exposure to polyethylene (PE) microplastics on ovarian folliculogenesis, apoptosis, and oxidative stress in female Wistar rats (<i>Rattus norvegicus</i>).<br> <b><span style="color:#2d73b4">Methods: </span></b>Twelve adult female Wistar rats were randomly divided into control and experimental groups (n=6 each). The experimental group was exposed to aerosolized PE microplastics in a chamber for 4 h/day over 28 days. Ovarian tissues were examined for follicle counts (primary, secondary, antral, and atretic), caspase-3 expression in antral follicle granulosa cells, and oxidative stress markers by measuring the malondialdehyde to superoxide dismutase (MDA/SOD) ratio.<br> <b><span style="color:#2d73b4">Results: </span></b>The PE microplastic exposure significantly reduced the numbers of primary (<i>p=0.0137</i>), secondary (<i>p=0.0053</i>), and antral follicles (<i>p=0.0033</i>), while increasing atretic follicles (<i>p=0.0062</i>). Caspase-3 expression in antral follicle granulosa cells was markedly upregulated (<i>p=0.0173</i>). Additionally, the MDA/SOD ratio was significantly elevated (<i>p=0.0043</i>), indicating oxidative stress induction. These findings suggest that PE microplastic inhalation disrupts folliculogenesis through oxidative stress and apoptosis pathways.<br> <b><span style="color:#2d73b4"><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">Conclusion: </span></span></b>Sub-acute inhalation of polyethylene microplastics induces oxidative stress and caspase-3&ndash;mediated apoptosis in ovarian tissue, leading to follicular depletion and potential reproductive toxicity.</span></span><br> &nbsp; Microplastics, Oxidative stress, Ovarian follicles, Polyethylene, Toxicity 0 0 http://ijt.arakmu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1382-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Laksmitha Janasti laksmithaaj234@gmail.com 100319475328460019066 100319475328460019066 No Department of Midwifery, Stikes Bhakti Husada Mulia, Madiun, Indonesia Riana Trinovita Sari rianats@gmail.com 100319475328460019067 100319475328460019067 No Department of Midwifery, Stikes Bhakti Husada Mulia, Madiun, Indonesia Muhammad Reva Aditya revaaditya@student.ub.ac.id 100319475328460019068 100319475328460019068 No Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia Hikmawan Wahyu Sulistomo hikmawan_ws@ub.ac.id 100319475328460019069 100319475328460019069 Yes Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia