The Effect of Maternal Exposure to Silver Nanoparticles during Lactation on the Liver of Newborn Rats

Silver nanoparticles lie within the most commercialized nanoparticles due to their strong antimicrobial properties. Animal studies have recently indicated that silver nanoparticles can be transfered from mothers to their pups via the maternal milk. However, there seems to be scant information in regard with the toxicity of these nanoparticles on various organs within sensitive developmental stages. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the effect of silver nanoparticles on the developing liver of rat pups after maternal exposure(during lactation) to these nanoparticles. The lactating mothers(30 rats) were divided into two groups. The treatment and control groups orally recieved nano particles(25 mg/kg BW) and deionized water(from 1st to 12th days of lactation), respectively. The pups were killed and their livers were collected, some of which were sliced and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin. The concentration of Malondialdehyde, Glutathione, Glutathione peroxidase activity and silver level of the pup's livers were determined utilizing spectrophotometric assay and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis, respectively. The study results demonstrated a significant increase in malondialdehyde and silver levels(p<0.001)as well as a significant decrease in Glutathione peroxidase activity(p<0.01) and Glutathione concentration(p<0.05) of the pup's livers in the treatment group compared with those of the control group. Moreover, histopathological examination indicated sinusoidal dilatation and congestion as well as fatty degeneration in the pup's livers of the treated group. The study findings proposed that exposure to silver nanoparticles during lactation may induce toxicity in the liver of the pups, though further experiments are required in this field.