Study record

Analysis by Metabolomics and Transcriptomics for the Energy Metabolism Disorder and the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Activation in Male Reproduction of Mice and GC-2spd Cells Exposed to PM2.5

Shi F, Zhang Z, Wang J et al. · Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) · 2021

AnimalEndogenous MOTS-c measuredEvidence tier CAlso: Cell study (in vitro)

What this study reported

Reported that fine particulate matter exposure reduced sperm motility in mice and cell proliferation in spermatocyte-derived cells, with mitochondrial damage, higher humanin and MOTS-c levels and lower mitochondrial respiration. MOTS-c was measured as one marker of disturbed mitochondrial function rather than as the study's focus.

Limitations

Male mice of a single strain and one cell line, MOTS-c measured only as a secondary marker without mechanistic follow-up, and exposure conditions specific to one geographic setting.

Study record

Annotated fields for this study
Study modelAnimal study (in vivo)
Substance studiedEndogenous MOTS-c measuredNaturally occurring MOTS-c was measured; nothing was given.
Speciesmouse
System studiedMale C57BL/6 mice exposed to filtered, unfiltered or concentrated ambient fine particulate matter, and GC-2spd spermatocyte-derived cells
PopulationNot reported
DesignControlled animal exposure experiment with cell culture experiments
Sample size as reported45 male C57BL/6 mice across three exposure groups
Control groupfiltered-air exposed mice and untreated cells
Route (data field only)Not reported
Endpoints measuredsperm motility; cell proliferation; MOTS-c and humanin levels; mitochondrial respiration; AhR pathway activation; reactive oxygen species
Pathways measuredOxidative stress · NRF2 / antioxidant response
Research areasReproductive · Mitochondrial biology
Evidence tierC — Animal in vivo
Publication typesJournal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Appraisal

Each dimension is recorded separately and never combined into a single score. A study can be well controlled and still tell you little about people.

Relevance to MOTS-c
Peripheral
Model applicability
Mammalian
Sample size
Small
Controls
Appropriate
Outcome validity
Surrogate
Support for its own conclusion
Moderate

Provenance

  • Bibliographic fields retrieved from PubMed E-utilities efetch (title, journal, date, authors, DOI) on 2026-11-11.
  • Annotated from the published abstract.
  • Editorial review: approved (2026-11-11).
  • Classification follows the site methodology; the record describes the study, not what MOTS-c does in people.