Sub-acute intravenous administration of silver nanoparticles in male mice alters Leydig cell function and testosterone levels.
The aim of this study was to determine whether short-term, in vivo exposure to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) could be toxic to male reproduction. Low dose (1mg/kg/dose) AgNPs were intravenously injected into male CD1 mice over 12 days. Treatment resulted in no changes in body and testis weights, sperm concentration and motility, fertility indices, or follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone serum concentrations; however, serum and intratesticular testosterone concentrations were significantly increased 15 days after initial treatment. Histologic evaluation revealed significant changes in epithelium morphology, germ cell apoptosis, and Leydig cell size. Additionally, gene expression analysis revealed Cyp11a1 and Hsd3b1 mRNA significantly upregulated in treated animals. These data suggest that AgNPs do not impair spermatogonial stem cells in vivo since treatment did not result in significant decreases in testis weight and sperm concentrations. However, AgNPs appear to affect Leydig cell function, yielding increasing testicular and serum testosterone levels.
Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA; Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Thomas X
TX
Garcia
Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Guilherme M J
GM
Costa
Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Luiz R
LR
França
Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA; Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: mhofmann@mdanderson.org.
Marie-Claude
MC
Hofmann
D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000818:Animals; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000235:genetics; D011375:Progesterone Reductase / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012834:Silver / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D013251:Steroid Isomerases / Q000235:genetics; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D059551:Toxicity Tests, Subacute
C021425:3 beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase-delta(5) 3-ketosteroid isomerase; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012834:Silver; D013739:Testosterone; D011375:Progesterone Reductase; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme; D013251:Steroid Isomerases
Fertility; Reproductive toxicity; Spermatogenesis; Testis