Tiny Titanium: How Nanoparticles Affect Male Fertility?

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles, often used in industry and medicine, are not great for male fertility. Research has found that these tiny particles can mess with sperm cells and the blood-testis barrier, which is important for protecting sperm. They cause sperm count to drop and make sperm move slower. The nanoparticles also change the shape of cell structures and cause some cells to die. Important proteins that hold the blood-testis barrier together, like N-cadherin and β-catenin, decrease when exposed to these nanoparticles. Scientists discovered that these nanoparticles stop the formation of stress granules, which are like helpers for cells under stress. They also start a process that makes germ cells die through a pathway called ATM/P53. This shows how environmental factors can affect reproductive health, and it reveals new ways nanoparticles can harm the reproductive system.