Taurine improves bovine oocytes maturation through recovering mitochondria dysfunction and oxidative stress-induced apoptosis after Microplastics exposure

Plastic is widespread in our lives, releasing various Microplastics (MPs) with toxicity. In recent years, the potential threat of MPs on reproductive system arouses public concern. Numerous reports have focused on its damage to spermatogenesis. Nevertheless, the toxicity of MPs on female reproduction is unclear. Here, we explored this question using bovine oocyte. We found that MPs disrupts spindle organization, chromosomes alignment and actin assembly, leading to failed maturation of bovine oocytes. Meanwhile, cortical granule secretion is obstructed, suggesting the failure of cytoplasmic maturation. Therefore, embryonic development is impacted. In transcriptome results, MPs induces the expression change of Mitochondrial-related genes, reflecting the damage of MPs are mediated by mitochondrial functions. MPs indeed causes oxidative stress, DNA damage and apoptosis. Taurine is capable for stabilizing cellular antioxidant level. We surprisingly find that Taurine suppresses mitochondrial dysfunction, reversing the failure of oocyte maturation and embryo development after MPs exposure. Collectively, we reveal the reproduction toxicity of MPs on bovine oocytes, and demonstrates the restorative effect of Taurine against MPs. Transcriptomic analysis of oocytes at M II stage was carried out using a protocol for RNA-Seq. The constructed library was sequenced with Illumina platform.