Maternal exposure to nanosized titanium dioxide suppresses embryonic development in mice

Fashui Hong,1–4 Yingjun Zhou,1–4 Xiaoyang Zhao,5 Lei Sheng,5 Ling Wang6 1Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Regional Modern Agriculture and Environmental Protection, 2Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Food Safety and Nutritional Function, 3Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricul...

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Main Authors: Hong F, Zhou Y, Zhao X, Sheng L, Wang L
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2017-08-01
Series:International Journal of Nanomedicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/maternal-exposure-to-nanosized-titanium-dioxide-suppresses-embryonic-d-peer-reviewed-article-IJN
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author Hong F
Zhou Y
Zhao X
Sheng L
Wang L
author_facet Hong F
Zhou Y
Zhao X
Sheng L
Wang L
author_sort Hong F
collection DOAJ
description Fashui Hong,1–4 Yingjun Zhou,1–4 Xiaoyang Zhao,5 Lei Sheng,5 Ling Wang6 1Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Regional Modern Agriculture and Environmental Protection, 2Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Food Safety and Nutritional Function, 3Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, 4School of Life Sciences, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian, 5Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 6Library of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China Abstract: Although nanoscale titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) has been extensively used in industrial food applications and daily products for pregnant women, infants, and children, its potential toxicity on fetal development has been rarely studied. The main objective of this investigation was to establish the effects of maternal exposure of nano-TiO2 on developing embryos. Female imprinting control region mice were orally administered nano-TiO2 from gestational day 0 to 17. Our findings showed that Ti concentrations in maternal serum, placenta, and fetus were increased in nano-TiO2-exposed mice when compared to controls, which resulted in reductions in the contents of calcium and zinc in maternal serum, placenta, and fetus, maternal weight gain, placental weight, fetal weight, number of live fetuses, and fetal crown–rump length as well as cauda length, and caused an increase in the number of both dead fetuses and resorptions. Furthermore, maternal nano-TiO2 exposure inhibited development of the fetal skeleton, suggesting a significant absence of cartilage, reduced or absent ossification, and an increase in the number of fetuses with dysplasia, including exencephaly, spina bifida, coiled tail, scoliosis, rib absence, and sternum absence. These findings indicated that nano-TiO2 can cross the blood–fetal barrier and placental barrier, thereby delaying the development of fetal mice and inducing skeletal malformation. These factors may be associated with reductions in both calcium and zinc in maternal serum and the fetus, and both the placenta and embryos may be major targets of developmental toxicity following maternal exposure to nano-TiO2 during the prenatal period. Therefore, the application of nano-TiO2 should be carried out with caution. Keywords: nanosized titanium dioxide, maternal exposure, embryonic toxicity, skeleton developmental suppression
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spelling doaj.art-7dd88ebb99724c01ad2a83272f6c32992022-12-21T19:16:33ZengDove Medical PressInternational Journal of Nanomedicine1178-20132017-08-01Volume 126197620434411Maternal exposure to nanosized titanium dioxide suppresses embryonic development in miceHong FZhou YZhao XSheng LWang LFashui Hong,1–4 Yingjun Zhou,1–4 Xiaoyang Zhao,5 Lei Sheng,5 Ling Wang6 1Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Regional Modern Agriculture and Environmental Protection, 2Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Food Safety and Nutritional Function, 3Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, 4School of Life Sciences, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian, 5Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 6Library of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China Abstract: Although nanoscale titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) has been extensively used in industrial food applications and daily products for pregnant women, infants, and children, its potential toxicity on fetal development has been rarely studied. The main objective of this investigation was to establish the effects of maternal exposure of nano-TiO2 on developing embryos. Female imprinting control region mice were orally administered nano-TiO2 from gestational day 0 to 17. Our findings showed that Ti concentrations in maternal serum, placenta, and fetus were increased in nano-TiO2-exposed mice when compared to controls, which resulted in reductions in the contents of calcium and zinc in maternal serum, placenta, and fetus, maternal weight gain, placental weight, fetal weight, number of live fetuses, and fetal crown–rump length as well as cauda length, and caused an increase in the number of both dead fetuses and resorptions. Furthermore, maternal nano-TiO2 exposure inhibited development of the fetal skeleton, suggesting a significant absence of cartilage, reduced or absent ossification, and an increase in the number of fetuses with dysplasia, including exencephaly, spina bifida, coiled tail, scoliosis, rib absence, and sternum absence. These findings indicated that nano-TiO2 can cross the blood–fetal barrier and placental barrier, thereby delaying the development of fetal mice and inducing skeletal malformation. These factors may be associated with reductions in both calcium and zinc in maternal serum and the fetus, and both the placenta and embryos may be major targets of developmental toxicity following maternal exposure to nano-TiO2 during the prenatal period. Therefore, the application of nano-TiO2 should be carried out with caution. Keywords: nanosized titanium dioxide, maternal exposure, embryonic toxicity, skeleton developmental suppressionhttps://www.dovepress.com/maternal-exposure-to-nanosized-titanium-dioxide-suppresses-embryonic-d-peer-reviewed-article-IJNNanosized titanium dioxideMaternal exposureMiceEmbryosSkeletonDevelopment
spellingShingle Hong F
Zhou Y
Zhao X
Sheng L
Wang L
Maternal exposure to nanosized titanium dioxide suppresses embryonic development in mice
International Journal of Nanomedicine
Nanosized titanium dioxide
Maternal exposure
Mice
Embryos
Skeleton
Development
title Maternal exposure to nanosized titanium dioxide suppresses embryonic development in mice
title_full Maternal exposure to nanosized titanium dioxide suppresses embryonic development in mice
title_fullStr Maternal exposure to nanosized titanium dioxide suppresses embryonic development in mice
title_full_unstemmed Maternal exposure to nanosized titanium dioxide suppresses embryonic development in mice
title_short Maternal exposure to nanosized titanium dioxide suppresses embryonic development in mice
title_sort maternal exposure to nanosized titanium dioxide suppresses embryonic development in mice
topic Nanosized titanium dioxide
Maternal exposure
Mice
Embryos
Skeleton
Development
url https://www.dovepress.com/maternal-exposure-to-nanosized-titanium-dioxide-suppresses-embryonic-d-peer-reviewed-article-IJN
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AT zhaox maternalexposuretonanosizedtitaniumdioxidesuppressesembryonicdevelopmentinmice
AT shengl maternalexposuretonanosizedtitaniumdioxidesuppressesembryonicdevelopmentinmice
AT wangl maternalexposuretonanosizedtitaniumdioxidesuppressesembryonicdevelopmentinmice