The effect of gold nanoparticles synthesized with Achillea biebersteinii on gene expression in Cultured preantral Follicles derived from NMRI mice ovary

Abstract

Infertility is one of the global public health problems facing society today. Studies on the causes of infertility have greatly expanded with the advancement of new technologies. The increasing use of nanomaterials has raised concerns about nanoparticles' potential dangers. The use of plant extracts is an easy and cost-effective approach to synthesize metal nanoparticles. In this comparative study, the effects of green and chemically synthesized Gold nanoparticles (GNPs), as well as Achillea biebersteinii (AM) (medicinal plant) extract, were investigated on the maturity of preantral Follicles (PF) of mice in vitro. The expression of GDF-9, BMP-15, GPX, and SOD-1 genes was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real Time-PCR). Twenty PF in control and experimental groups were treated with 50 μg/ml of AM extract, green GNPs, and GNPs, and were then used to determine intracellular ROS (Reactive oxygen species) in the first and fifth days after culture. AM extract also increased the expression of genes that stimulate preantral follicle growth (PF), including Growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9)and Bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP-15). Expression of the glutathione peroxidase (GPX) gene was observed in the group of NPs synthesized by a green method. Due to its antioxidant properties, this gene expression was also higher in the plant extract group than commercially synthesized GNPs. Overall, this study's findings showed that AM extract, due to its antioxidant effects, improves PF development, and AM-GNPs did not significantly impact PF growth, but GNPs inhibited PF growth. Findings suggest that the AM extract that covered the surface of AM-GNPs may be responsible for reducing the toxic effects of GNPs.