AgNPs reduce reproductive capability of female mouse for their toxic effects on mouse early embryo development

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely applied in the field of personal protection for their powerful toxic effects on cells, and recently, a new type of vaginal gel with AgNPs is used to protect the female reproductive tract from microbes and viruses. However, a high risk of AgNPs to the fetus and the underlying mechanism of AgNPs to interfere in embryo development still remain unclear. Thus, this study investigated the impact of two drugs of vaginal gel with AgNPs on reproductive capability of the female mouse by animal experiment. Then, kinetics of AgNPs affecting embryo development was investigated by in vitro embryos culturing, and cell membrane potential (CMP) of zygotes was analyzed by DiBAC4(3) staining. Results indicated that one of the drugs of vaginal gel certainly injured embryo development in spite of no apparent histological change found in ovaries and uteruses of drug-treated mice. In vitro embryo culturing discovered that the toxic effect of AgNPs on embryo development presented particle sizes and dose dependent, and AgNP treatment could rapidly trigger depolarization of the cell membrane of zygotes. Moreover, AgNPs changed the gene expression pattern of Oct-4 and Cdx2 in blastocysts. All these findings suggest that AgNPs can interfere with normal cellular status including cell membrane potential, which has not been noticed in previous studies on the impact of AgNPs on mammalian embryos. Thus, findings of this study alarm us the risk of applying vaginal gel with AgNPs in individual caring and protection of the female reproductive system.

Ezrin Thr567 phosphorylation participates in mouse oocyte maturation, fertilization, and early embryonic development

“…Collection of GV-stage, MII-stage oocytes, and pronuclear-stage embryos: As described in literatures [41,42], in brief, 6-8 week-old female ICR mice were injected intraperitoneally with 10 IU of Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin. (PMSG, Ningbo Sansheng Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.).…”

“…In vitro fertilization (IVF): Matured oocytes were incubated in HTF medium (MR-070-D, Milipore) containing 10µL of capacitated sperm suspension obtained as described above at 37°C with 5% CO 2 for 4-6 hours [42,44]. The fertilization rate was calculated based on the formation of pronuclear and the extrusion of the second polar body.…”

Developmental impacts and toxicological hallmarks of silver nanoparticles across diverse biological models

“…Furthermore, Kunming mice administrated with AgNPs at 11.61 nm via tail vein injection showed a significant increase in the rate of embryo resorption [ 51 ]. Notably, a recent study found that commercial drugs of vaginal gels containing AgNPs impaired mammalian embryo development, despite no apparent impairments in the reproduction of ICR female mice, a mouse strain from the Institute of Cancer Research and therefore called ICR mice in short [ 53 ]. Additionally, AgNPs hindered the development of in vitro fertilization embryos in particle size- and dose-dependent manner [ 53 ].…”

“…Notably, a recent study found that commercial drugs of vaginal gels containing AgNPs impaired mammalian embryo development, despite no apparent impairments in the reproduction of ICR female mice, a mouse strain from the Institute of Cancer Research and therefore called ICR mice in short [ 53 ]. Additionally, AgNPs hindered the development of in vitro fertilization embryos in particle size- and dose-dependent manner [ 53 ]. Overall, exposure to AgNPs during pregnancy through various routes, such as pulmonary exposure or intravenous injection, can lead to embryotoxicity across different strains.…”