title: Regulation of neuroendocrine cells and neuron factors in the ovary by zinc oxide nanoparticles.
abstract: The pubertal period is an important window during the development of the female reproductive system. Development of the pubertal ovary, which supplies the oocytes intended for fertilization, requires growth factors, hormones, and neuronal factors. It has been reported that zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) cause cytotoxicity of neuron cells. However, there have been no reports of the effects of ZnO NPs on neuronal factors and neuroendocrine cells in the ovary (in vivo). For the first time, this in vivo study investigated the effects of ZnO NPs on gene and protein expression of neuronal factors and the population of neuroendocrine cells in ovaries. Intact NPs were detected in ovarian tissue and although ZnO NPs did not alter body weight, they reduced the ovary organ index. Compared to the control or ZnSO4 treatments, ZnO NPs treatments differentially regulated neuronal factor protein and gene expression, and the population of neuroendocrine cells. ZnO NPs changed the contents of essential elements in the ovary; however, they did not alter levels of the steroid hormones estrogen and progesterone. These data together suggest that intact ZnO NPs might pose a toxic effect on neuron development in the ovary and eventually negatively affect ovarian developmental at puberty.
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, PR China.
authors.forename: Xin-Qi
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, PR China.
authors.forename: Hong-Fu
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao 266109, PR China.
authors.forename: Wei-Dong
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao 266109, PR China.
authors.forename: Peng-Fei
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, PR China.
authors.forename: Ya-Nan
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Zao Zhuang Municipal Hospital, Shandong, Zaozhuang 277101, PR China.
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao 266109, PR China.
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao 266109, PR China.
authors.forename: Yan-Ni
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Hui
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao 266109, PR China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao 266109, PR China.
authors.forename: Ling-Jiang
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, PR China.
authors.forename: Hong-Di
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao 266109, PR China. Electronic address: yzhao818@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055099:Neuroendocrine Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015034:Zinc Oxide
keywords: Neuroendocrine cells; Neuron factors; Ovary; Pubertal; Zinc oxide nanoparticles