Nanoparticles and female reproductive system: how do nanoparticles affect oogenesis and embryonic development

Abstract

Along with the increasing application of nanoparticles (NPs) in many walks of life, environmental exposure to NPs has raised considerable health concerns. When NPs enter a pregnant woman’s body through inhalation, venous injection, ingestion or skin permeation, maternal toxic stress reactions such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), inflammation, apoptosis and endocrine dyscrasia are induced in different organs, particularly in the reproductive organs. Recent studies have shown that NPs disturb the developing oocyte by invading the protective barrier of theca cells, granulosa cell layers and zona pellucida. NPs disrupt sex hormone levels through the hypothalamic–pituitary-gonadal axis or by direct stimulation of secretory cells, such as granule cells, follicle cells, thecal cells and the corpus luteum. Some NPs can cross the placenta into the fetus by passive diffusion or endocytosis, which can trigger fetal inflammation, apoptosis, genotoxicity, cytotoxicity, low weight, reproductive deficiency, nervous damage, and immunodeficiency, among others. The toxicity of these NPs depend on their size, dosage, shape, charge, material and surface-coating. We summarize new findings on the toxic effect of various NPs on the ovary and on oogenesis and embryonic development. Meanwhile, we highlight the problems that need to be studied in the future. This manuscript will also provide valuable guidelines for protecting the female reproductive system from the toxicity of NPs and provide a certain reference value for NP application in the area of ovarian diseases.

Relative expression of microRNAs, apoptosis, and ultrastructure anomalies induced by gold nanoparticles in Trachyderma hispida (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

“…In the present study, the commercially available Au-NPs had a mean size 20 ± 5 nm as measured by the TEM. The size of metal NPs is one of the main factors that dictate whether they can cross the biological membranes and result in deleterious effects [ 46 ]. The small hydrodynamic diameter of NPs generates an increased amount of cytotoxicity [ 47 ].…”

Salubrious effects of a vermiculite–cellulose‐based bionanocomposite on oxidative stress indices and histomorphology of male Wistar rats

“…Fathi et al () showed the noxious effects of silver nanoparticles on the sperm and seminiferous tubules, while Qin et al () stated that cerium oxide nanoparticles adversely affected testosterone levels with a concomitant depletion of mRNA expression in steroidogenic‐related genes. Furthermore, Hou and Zhu () suggested that nanoparticles could elicit various stress responses in reproductive organs via the mechanisms of oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammation.…”

Nanoplastics Cause Neurobehavioral Impairments, Reproductive and Oxidative Damages, and Biomarker Responses in Zebrafish: Throwing up Alarms of Wide Spread Health Risk of Exposure

“…In their study, NPs crossed the blood-brain barrier and accumulated in the central nervous system (CNS) [59]. Later, NPs disrupted hormone secretion, such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which is responsible for oogenesis, through the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis [60][61][62]. Moreover, NPs could also cross through the placenta into the fetus, causing treated mice to likely exhibit fetal inflammation, genotoxicity, apoptosis, reproductive deficiency, and immunodeficiency [60].…”

“…Later, NPs disrupted hormone secretion, such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which is responsible for oogenesis, through the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis [60][61][62]. Moreover, NPs could also cross through the placenta into the fetus, causing treated mice to likely exhibit fetal inflammation, genotoxicity, apoptosis, reproductive deficiency, and immunodeficiency [60]. In addition, another study in Bombyx mori, an invertebrate model organism, also proved that Ag-NPs could induce reproductive toxicity.…”