title: Silver nanoparticles disrupt germline stem cell maintenance in the Drosophila testis.
abstract: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), one of the most popular nanomaterials, are commonly used in consumer products and biomedical devices, despite their potential toxicity. Recently, AgNP exposure was reported to be associated with male reproductive toxicity in mammalian models. However, there is still a limited understanding of the effects of AgNPs on spermatogenesis. The fruit fly Drosophila testis is an excellent in vivo model to elucidate the mechanisms underlying AgNP-induced defects in spermatogenesis, as germ lineages can be easily identified and imaged. In this study, we evaluated AgNP-mediated toxicity on spermatogenesis by feeding Drosophila with AgNPs at various concentrations. We first observed a dose-dependent uptake of AgNPs in vivo. Concomitantly, AgNP exposure caused a significant decrease in the viability and delay in the development of Drosophila in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, AgNP-treated male flies showed a reduction in fecundity, and the resulting testes contained a decreased number of germline stem cells (GSCs) compared to controls. Interestingly, testes exposed to AgNPs exhibited a dramatic increase in reactive oxygen species levels and showed precocious GSC differentiation. Taken together, our study suggests that AgNP exposure may increase ROS levels in the Drosophila testis, leading to a reduction of GSC number by promoting premature GSC differentiation.
authors: Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117594, Singapore.
authors: Cynthia
authors: C
authors: Ong
authors: Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117594, Singapore.
authors: Qian Ying
authors: QY
authors: Lee
authors: Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117604, Singapore.|Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore.
authors: Yu
authors: Y
authors: Cai
authors: Department of Materials Science &Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 7 Engineering Drive 1, 117574, Singapore.
authors: Xiaoli
authors: X
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Materials Science &Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 7 Engineering Drive 1, 117574, Singapore.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Ding
authors: Department of Chemical &Biomolecular Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore.
authors: Lin-Yue Lanry
authors: LY
authors: Yung
authors: Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117594, Singapore.
authors: Boon-Huat
authors: BH
authors: Bay
authors: Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117594, Singapore.
authors: Gyeong-Hun
authors: GH
authors: Baeg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004330:Drosophila / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012834:Silver / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012834:Silver