Effects of lung exposure to carbon nanotubes on female fertility and pregnancy. A study in mice

Abstract

We studied the effects of preconceptional exposure to multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs): mature, female C57BL/6J mice were intratracheally instilled with 67μg NM-400 MWCNT, and the following day co-housed with mature males, in breeding pairs. Time to delivery of the first litter, litter parameters, maternal inflammation and histopathology of lung and liver were recorded. In male offspring, locomotor activity, startle response, and daily sperm production (DSP) were assessed. In the dams, lung and liver bore evidence of MWCNT exposure when assessed 6 weeks and 4 months after exposure. A short delay in the delivery of the first litter was observed in exposed females. Litter parameters, behavior and DSP were similar in control and exposed groups. In conclusion, instillation of a single dose of MWCNT induced long lasting pathological changes in dam lung and liver. Theoretically, lung inflammation due to particle exposure could interfere with female reproductive parameters. Whether the observed lag in delivery of a first litter was in fact caused by exposure to MWCNT should be addressed in a study designed specifically to elucidate effects on the early processes involved in establishment of pregnancy. Exposure was not associated with changes in the assessed gestational or offspring parameters.

Therapeutic applications of low-toxicity spherical nanocarbon materials

“…138 It was also found that both single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes adversely affected embryonic development. 139,140 In a recent study using C. elegans as an animal model, acute toxicity, including retarded growth, shortened life span and defective embryogenesis, and accumulated chronic toxicity were observed. 141 It is proposed that the geometry and agglomeration of carbon nanotubes, in addition to their metallic impurities, contribute to their toxicity.…”

A perspective on the developmental toxicity of inhaled nanoparticles

“…Moreover, astrocytes in the proximity of these macrophages displayed phenotypic changes similar to that observed in blood vessel damage related to ischemia [113]. No effects on spontaneous activity and acoustic startle response were observed in the offspring of mice preconceptionally exposed to intra-tracheal instillation of MWCNTs (67 g/animal), in spite of the presence of long-lasting pulmonary inflammation in the dams [96]. The mere presence of persistent pulmonary inflammation (and the related systemic consequences) during gestation did therefore suffice to change function of the assessed domains in the offspring.…”

“…For instillation, MWCNTs were dispersed in nanopure water with 2% mouse serum. No effects were observed on gestational and litter parameters [96]. Another study assessed the effect of maternal instillation of the MWCNT-7, with an average diameter of 100 nm.…”

“…No changes in DSP were reported in the male offspring. Notably, the lung inflammation due to MCWNT exposure would have been expected to be present throughout gestation [96]. Supplementary information is available for the subcutaneous route.…”

Exposition aux gaz d’échappement diesel durant la gestation : quelles conséquences sur le développement foeto-placentaire ? Apport des modèles animaux

“…Une exposition à des nanotubes de carbone par instillation intratrachéale entraîne une inflammation pulmonaire maternelle et une diminution de la prolificité sans différence du nombre de sites d'implantation, suggérant un effet sur l'implantation précoce (Hougaard et al 2013).…”