{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T03:06:47Z","timestamp":1792033607788,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":66,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,22]],"date-time":"2025-10-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1761091200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Italian Ministry of University and Research","award":["20204YRYS5"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["20204YRYS5"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Biomolecules"],"abstract":"<jats:p>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\u2019s 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, 3\u03b2-HSD, and 17\u03b2-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.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/biom15111484","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,22]],"date-time":"2025-10-22T07:03:51Z","timestamp":1761116631000},"page":"1484","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Protective Effects and Potential Mechanisms of D-Aspartate on Testicular Damage Induced by Polystyrene Microplastics"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Sara","family":"Falvo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Universit\u00e0 degli Studi della Campania \u2018Luigi Vanvitelli\u2019, Via Vivaldi, 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Giulia","family":"Grillo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Universit\u00e0 degli Studi della Campania \u2018Luigi Vanvitelli\u2019, Via Vivaldi, 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4025-8765","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Imed","family":"Messaoudi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LR11ES41: G\u00e9n\u00e9tique, Biodiversit\u00e9 et Valorisation des Bioressources, Institut Sup\u00e9rieur de Biotechnologie, Universit\u00e9 de Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-6299-0167","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nada","family":"Fradi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LR11ES41: G\u00e9n\u00e9tique, Biodiversit\u00e9 et Valorisation des Bioressources, Institut Sup\u00e9rieur de Biotechnologie, Universit\u00e9 de Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gabriella","family":"Chieffi Baccari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Universit\u00e0 degli Studi della Campania \u2018Luigi Vanvitelli\u2019, Via Vivaldi, 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4673-6729","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria Maddalena","family":"Di Fiore","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Universit\u00e0 degli Studi della Campania \u2018Luigi Vanvitelli\u2019, Via Vivaldi, 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-2742-1995","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alessandra","family":"Biasi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sez. 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