Silver nanoparticles cause complications in pregnant mice

Abstract

Background Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted much interest and have been used for antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, and antiangiogenic applications because of their unique properties. The increased usage of AgNPs leads to a potential hazard to human health. However, the potential effects of AgNPs on animal models are not clear. This study was designed to investigate the potential impact of AgNPs on pregnant mice. Methods The synthesis of AgNPs was performed using culture extracts of Bacillus cereus . The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. AgNPs were administrated into pregnant mice via intravenous infusion at 1.0 mg/kg doses at 6.5 days postcoitum (dpc). At 13.5, 15.5, and 17.5 dpc, the pregnant mice were euthanized, and the embryo and placenta were isolated. The meiotic status of oocytes was evaluated. DNA methylation studies were performed, and aberrant imprinting disrupted fetal, placental, and postnatal development. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis and Western blot were used to analyze various gene expressions. Results The synthesized AgNPs were uniformly distributed and were spherical in shape with an average size of 8 nm. AgNPs exposure increased the meiotic progression of female germ cells in the fetal mouse ovaries, and maternal AgNP exposure significantly disrupted imprinted gene expression in 15.5 dpc embryos and placentas, such as Ascl2 , Snrpn , Kcnq1ot1 , Peg3 , Zac1 , H19 , Igf2r , and Igf2 ; DNA methylation studies revealed that AgNPs exposure significantly altered the methylation levels of differentially methylated regions of Zac1 . Conclusion The results from this study indicated that early exposure to AgNPs has the potential to disrupt fetal and postnatal health through epigenetic changes in the embryo and abnormal development of the placenta. These results can contribute to research involved in the safe use of various biomedical applications of AgNPs and improves the understanding of the development of AgNPs in biomedical applications.

Bactericidal and Cytotoxic Properties of Silver Nanoparticles

“…Liver is one of the main target organs for administration routes involving translocation of AgNPs in the blood circulation system [229,230,231,232,233,234,235,236,237,238,239,240]. Kupffer phagocytic cells in the liver are essential for particle removal following intravenous administration.…”

Sodium Selenite Protects Against Silver Nanoparticle-Induced Testicular Toxicity and Inflammation

“…Recent studies have demonstrated the adverse effects of AgNPs on the male reproductive tract, particularly spermatogenesis and the quality of sperm and male somatic cells and spermatogonial stem cells [9,10]. Early exposure to AgNPs has the potential to disrupt fetal and postnatal health in the embryo and abnormal development of the placenta [11]. Toxicity assessment of silver nanoparticles in Persian sturgeon during early life stages has also been reported recently [12].…”

Effect of Nano-SiO2 on Expression and Aberrant Methylation of Imprinted Genes in Lung and Testis

“…These biological effects are influenced by the physiochemical properties of nanoparticles, including their size, surface area, shape, surface chemistry, functionalization, and solubility [ 10 , 11 ]. There is growing evidence that clearly demonstrate exposure to nanoparticles may trigger epigenetic alterations in tissues and cells even at low, non-cytotoxic doses [ 12 , 13 ]. Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene function that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence including methylation of DNA, gene imprinting, histone modifications, and regulation by non-coding RNAs [ 14 ].…”