title: Effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles on dams and embryo-fetal development in rats.
abstract: This study investigated the potential adverse effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO(SM20[-]) NPs; negatively charged, 20 nm) on pregnant dams and embryo-fetal development after maternal exposure over the period of gestational days 5-19 with Sprague Dawley rats. ZnO(SM20(-)) NPs were administered to pregnant rats by gavage at 0 mg/kg/day, 100 mg/kg/day, 200 mg/kg/day, and 400 mg/kg/day. All dams were subjected to caesarean section on gestational day 20, and all the fetuses were examined for external, visceral, and skeletal alterations. Toxicity in the dams manifested as significantly decreased body weight at 400 mg/kg/day and decreased liver weight, and increased adrenal glands weight at 200 mg/kg/day and 400 mg/kg/day. However, no treatment-related difference in the number of corpora lutea, the number of implantation sites, the implantation rate (%), resorption, dead fetuses, litter size, fetal deaths, fetal and placental weights, and sex ratio were observed between the groups. Morphological examinations of the fetuses demonstrated no significant difference in the incidences of abnormalities between the groups. No significant difference was found in the Zn content of fetal tissue between the control and high-dose groups. These results showed that a 15-day repeated oral dose of ZnO(SM20(-)) was minimally maternotoxic at dose of 200 mg/kg/day and 400 mg/kg/day.
authors.affiliation: Health Care Research Laboratory, Korea Testing and Research Institute, Gimpo, Korea ; College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Sup
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Health Care Research Laboratory, Korea Testing and Research Institute, Gimpo, Korea.
authors.forename: Myeong-Kyu
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Health Care Research Laboratory, Korea Testing and Research Institute, Gimpo, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Seok
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Health Care Research Laboratory, Korea Testing and Research Institute, Gimpo, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Hyeon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Health Care Research Laboratory, Korea Testing and Research Institute, Gimpo, Korea.
authors.forename: Gil-Jong
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Health Care Research Laboratory, Korea Testing and Research Institute, Gimpo, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Ho
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Maeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Eulji University, Seongnam-si, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Korea University Medical School and College, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yu-Ri
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Korea University Medical School and College, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Meyoung-Kon
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Toxicological Research Division, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Chungcheongbuk-do, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Kwon
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Choon
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho-Chul
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D015034:Zinc Oxide
keywords: developmental toxicity; maternal toxicity; nanoparticles; nanotoxicology; teratogenicity; zinc oxide