Sub-acute intravenous administration of silver nanoparticles in male mice alters Leydig cell function and testosterone levels

• Published in: Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.) Vol. 45; pp. 59 - 70
• Main Authors: Garcia, Thomas X., Costa, Guilherme M.J., França, Luiz R., Hofmann, Marie-Claude
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.06.2014
• Subjects: Administration, Intravenous; Animals; Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme - genetics; Female; Fertility; Gene Expression - drug effects; Male; Metal Nanoparticles - toxicity; Mice; Multienzyme Complexes - genetics; Progesterone Reductase - genetics; Reproductive toxicity; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Silver - pharmacokinetics; Silver - toxicity; Spermatogenesis; Steroid Isomerases - genetics; Testis; Testis - drug effects; Testis - metabolism; Testis - pathology; Testosterone - blood; Testosterone - metabolism; Toxicity Tests, Subacute; Testis; Spermatogenesis; Fertility; Reproductive toxicity
• ISSN: 0890-6238; 1873-1708
• DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2014.01.006

•Silver nanoparticles were intravenously injected into male CD1 mice over 12 days.•Sperm concentration and motility, and mating and fertility indices were normal.•Leydig cell function was altered, resulting in increased testosterone levels.•Cyp11a1 and Hsd3b1 intratesticular mRNA was increased in treated mice.•Silver nanoparticles are potentially toxic to male reproduction. The aim of this study was to determine whether short-term, in vivo exposure to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) could be toxic to male reproduction. Low dose (1mg/kg/dose) AgNPs were intravenously injected into male CD1 mice over 12 days. Treatment resulted in no changes in body and testis weights, sperm concentration and motility, fertility indices, or follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone serum concentrations; however, serum and intratesticular testosterone concentrations were significantly increased 15 days after initial treatment. Histologic evaluation revealed significant changes in epithelium morphology, germ cell apoptosis, and Leydig cell size. Additionally, gene expression analysis revealed Cyp11a1 and Hsd3b1 mRNA significantly upregulated in treated animals. These data suggest that AgNPs do not impair spermatogonial stem cells in vivo since treatment did not result in significant decreases in testis weight and sperm concentrations. However, AgNPs appear to affect Leydig cell function, yielding increasing testicular and serum testosterone levels.