Mesoporous silica nanoparticle is comparatively safer than zinc oxide nanoparticle which can cause profound steroidogenic effects on pregnant mice and male offspring exposed in utero

Abstract

The increasing use of nanomaterials has naturally caused heightened concerns about their potential risks to human and animal health. We investigated the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) on steroidogenesis in the corpus luteum (CL) of pregnant mice and testis of male offspring. Pregnant albino mice were exposed to ZnO NPs and MSN for 2 days on alternate days, gestation days 15-19. Hepatic injury marker enzymes increased in the higher concentration of NM-exposed mother mice, but histological examination revealed no changes in the placenta of pregnant mice, whereas testis of male offspring showed gross pathological changes. The expression pattern of progesterone biosynthesis-related genes was also altered in the CL of NP-exposed pregnant mice. In utero exposure of ZnO NPs increased the relative expression of StAR in 100 mg/kg body weight (BW) ZnO NP-treated and bulk ZnO-treated groups and P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) in 50 mg/kg BW ZnO NP-treated and 100 mg/kg of bulk ZnO-treated male offspring. Serum testosterone concentration significantly increased in the 100 mg/kg of bulk ZnO-treated group and decreased in the 250 mg/kg of MSN-treated group and a single dose of 300 mg/Kg BW of ZnO NPs caused miscarriages and adversely affected the developing foetus in mice.

Fetotoxicity of Nanoparticles: Causes and Mechanisms

“…In contrast, inhalation exposure to TiO 2 NPs during gestation at the total doses of 0.5, 5, 50, and 500 µg did not affect the male reproductive function in two generations of male offspring mice [28]. The oral administration of ZnO NPs (50 and 100 mg/kg) and SiO 2 NPs (250 mg/kg) triggered alterations in spermatogenesis and pathological changes in testis, such as epithelial vacuolization, cellular adhesion of epithelia, and decreased seminiferous tubule diameter [59]. Similarly, Di Bona et al reported a charge-and dose-dependent effect on the reproduction of offspring by prenatal exposure to Fe 2 O 3 NPs.…”

“…Metal oxide NPs. Previous investigations indicated that in utero exposure to ZnO NPs, TiO 2 NPs, Fe 2 O 3 NPs, and SiO 2 NPs affected male reproductive ability and the reproductive function of offspring [28,59,60,106,107]. The subcutaneous injection of TiO 2 NPs into pregnant mice resulted in alterations in spermatogenesis and impairment in the testis of offspring.…”

Activation of Autophagy by Low-Dose Silica Nanoparticles Enhances Testosterone Secretion in Leydig Cells

“…An increasing number of studies is focusing on the male reproductive toxicity of SNPs [ 6 , 13 , 15 , 29 , 30 ]. SNPs can penetrate the mouse blood–testis barrier and exert their toxic actions.…”

“…The toxic effect of SNPs on PLCs directly affects the development of the male reproductive system. Not surprisingly, abnormally high doses of SNPs reduced cell viability and increased cell apoptosis [ 30 ]. Although low doses of SNPs have no significant cytotoxicity in PLCs, their effect on testosterone synthesis and secretion is not known.…”

Postnatal distribution of ZnO nanoparticles to the breast milk through oral route and their risk assessment for breastfed rat offsprings

“…The ALT levels significantly increased in male offsprings of albino mice prenatally exposed to 100 mg kg À1 ZnO-NPs for 2 alternate days. 58 Fourteen-day repeated oral administration of ZnO-NPs (5-2000 mg kg À1 ) induced an increase in the level of serum blood AST and ALT, in an inverse dose-dependent relationship. Thus, the low dose of ZnO-NPs is higher toxic versus high dose, suggesting the importance of particle density rather than conventional mass concentration dose.…”