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Abstract
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) demonstrate potential positive effects on reproduction. However, their protective role against the reproductive toxicity pollutants has not yet been adequately studied at the molecular level. This study was designed to assess this objective using Benzo[α]pyrene B[a]P as reproductive toxic agent . Forty-eight mature male rats were randomly distributed into six groups: Group1 (negative control); Groups 2 and 3 (positive control I and II, wherein the animals were treated with 10 and 30 mg ZnO NPs/kg BW, respectively); Group 4 (B[a]P group; treated with 150 mg B[a]P/kg BW); and Groups 5 and 6 (subjected to B[a]P treatment co-administered with different concentrations of ZnO NPs). We investigated oxidative stress biomarkers; cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) gene expression; testosterone levels; and histopathology of the liver, kidney, and testicles. The B[a]P-treated group showed significant deterioration in all reproductive parameters and displayed induced oxidative stress. ZnO NPs remarkably reduced oxidative stress, effectively upregulated the mRNA levels of CY11A1, StAR, and 3β-HSD, and improved the histological pictures in the examined organs. At their investigated doses and given their NPs properties, ZnO NPs demonstrated a marked ameliorative effect against the reproductive toxic effects of B[a]P. Further studies are needed to thoroughly investigate the molecular mechanisms of ZnO NPs.
Highlights
Nanoparticles (NPs) are materials with at least one dimension ≤ 100 nm and have a large surface-to-volume ratio
We examined the expression levels of some important steroidogenic enzymes, namely, cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), using the quantitative real-time PCR technique; we supported our results with our data on an array of oxidative stress biomarkers, on the serum testosterone levels, and on sperm count, and we validated our findings with histopathological examination
The gene expression levels of StAR significantly increased by 225.6% and 351%, those of CY11A1 increased by 167.3% and 207%, and those of 3 β-HSD by 301% and 340 in B[a]P + ZnONPs10 and B[a]P + ZnONPs30 groups, respectively (P > 0.001)
Summary
Nanoparticles (NPs) are materials with at least one dimension ≤ 100 nm and have a large surface-to-volume ratio. Zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs have become one of the most useful metal oxide NPs in various applications in the biological and animal sciences owing to their exceptional properties of biocompatibility, solubility, and low toxicity, as well as their being e conomical[8]. Whether ZnO NPs are toxic[9] or whether they play a stimulating role in the reproductive system is a great dispute among reproductive scientists This big question has led to a conclusion stating that the effects of NPs depend on different factors, such as their size, concentration, morphology, synthesis process, and surface area, as well as on the tested cell type and organism. Our result may contribute new data on the protective effects of the investigated doses of ZnO NPs toward male fertility
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