Unexpected Reproductive Effect of Prolonged Oral Administration of Silver Nanoparticles in Laboratory Mice

Nanoparticles overcome biological barriers, therefore, their mother-to-offspring transmission through the placental barrier or during lactation may have deleterious effects on development and survival of the offspring. The aim of the study was to assess exposure to silver nanoparticles (AgNP) during pregnancy and lactation on cognitive impairments in the offspring in mice. This short report present unexpected findings on the effect of AgNP on fertility. Methods. Mice in the experimental group were received a solution of AgNP at concentration of 25 μg/ml in drinking water from one week before mating until the end of lactation. Mice in the control group drank clean water during the same period. The silver content in mice organs and tissues was assessed by the neutron activation analysis. The experiment to count the offspring was repeated twice. Results. In both experiments an unexpected effect was observed: in the experimental group the birth rate was approximately twice as high as in the control group. In the first experiment, 117 pups were born in the experimental group vs. 62 in the control group. The average number of pups per mouse was 4.68 (95 % CI: 3.875.61) in the experimental group and 2.48 (95 % CI: 1.9-3.18) in the control group, p < 0.001. In the second experiment there were 29 vs. 17 pups, or 5.8 (95 % CI: 3.8-8.33) and 3.4 (95 % CI: 1.98-5.44) pups per mouse, respectively, p = 0.077. In the samples of organs and tissues of the experimental mice and pups, the average silver content was 3.77 ± 2.03 and 4.13 ± 1.52 μg/g (p = 0.369), respectively. In the control group, the silver content in the samples of females and offspring did not exceed the background level of 0.05 ± 0.04 μg/g (p < 0.001). No difference in survival of the offspring was observed. Conclusions: We found a significant reproductive effect of silver nanoparticles in laboratory mice. These findings need replication in other studies. Further research on reproductive effects of silver nanoparticles is warranted

Andrology · Biology · Fetus · Lactation · Offspring · Pregnancy · Anesthesia and Neurotoxicity Research · Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity · Medicine · Nanoparticles: synthesis and applications · Endocrinology · Internal Medicine · Physiology

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