Effects of silver nanoparticle on the developing liver of rat pups after maternal exposure

The extensive application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been increased due to their antimicrobial properties, however numerous concerns has been arisen about their toxicity potential. Since nanoparticles can cross through the placenta and accumulate in the embryonic organs especially liver, in this study, developmental hepatotoxicity of AgNPs was investigated.
Pregnant rats were divided into two groups, vehicle control group and treated group. Treated group received AgNPs (25 mg/kg) through intra-gastric gavage in a period of gestational days 1-19. Pups were sacrificed after the birth and their livers collected. Histopathology, ICP- mass spectrometry, Spectrophotometric assay and ELISA were employed to evaluate AgNPs toxicity in the liver of pups.
Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity and glutathione (GSH) level were significantly decreased and malondialdehyde (MDA) and caspase 9 levels were significantly increased, although there was no significant change in caspase 8 content in the liver of offspring. Fatty degeneration and congested dilated sinusoids were also observed in histo-pathological examination.
These results suggest that maternal oral exposure to AgNPs may induce oxidative stress and apoptosis in the liver of their offspring. Further investigations are required to clarify molecular events behind this happening.