Detection of Microplastics in Human Granulosa Cells and in the Follicular Fluid of Women Undergoing ICSI Treatment

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Plastic products have been used ubiquitously in the modern world for many decades - for example as packaging materials, textile fibers or molded parts. The general use and especially the improper disposal lead to enormous environmental pollution almost everywhere on earth. Microplastics mainly originate from fragmentation of larger plastic objects or can be produced directly for the use in e.g. cosmetics or industrial dyes. Microplastics have already been detected in fresh- and seawater, soil, food, but also in human blood and urine. The accumulation of microplastics in ovarian and testicular tissue in humans has not yet been investigated.

Detailed Description
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Plastic products have been used ubiquitously in the modern world for many decades - for example as packaging materials, textile fibers or molded parts. The general use and especially the improper disposal lead to enormous environmental pollution almost everywhere on earth. In particular microplastics, by definition plastic particles with a diameter of less than 5mm, could pose a hazard to animals, humans and nature. Microplastics mainly originate from fragmentation of larger plastic objects or can be produced directly for the use in e.g. cosmetics or industrial dyes. Microplastics have already been detected in fresh- and seawater, soil, food, but also in human blood and urine. The accumulation of microplastics in ovarian and testicular tissue in humans has not yet been investigated. The presence of microplastics in reproductive tissue could also have negative consequences for reproduction. In oysters, waterfleas and mice, an impairment of reproduction due to the bioaccumulation of microplastics has already been described. Overall, current understanding of the effects of microplastics on human fertility and overall mammalian health is very limited. Samples will be analyzed using Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

Official Title
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Detection of Microplastics in Human Granulosa Cells and in the Follicular Fluid of Women Undergoing Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) Treatment

Conditions
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Female Infertility, Environmental Exposure

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Microplastics


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: The patients to be included should be ≥18 years of age undergoing an intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment. There is no upper limit for patient age. Exclusion Criteria: none

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Study Group<br>Proof of principle Study group: detection of microplastics in human granulosa cells and in the follicular fluid of women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment | Other: Microplastics<br>* Detection of microplastics as a yes/no value<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Detection of microplastics in human granulosa cells and in the Follicular fluid | Detection of microplastics in human granulosa cells and in the Follicular fluid of women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment as a binary value (yes / no). | 1 day (directly after oocyte pick-up) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Microplastics, Follicular Fluid, Granulosa Cells