Study of different doses of zinc oxide nanoparticles by intraperitoneal and gavage methods on testicular tissue in Wistar rats: An experimental study

Background: Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPS) are widely used in human life; however, they do have side effects on human health.  Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the different doses of ZnO-NPS on testicular tissue. Materials and Methods: ۳۵ male Wistar rats (۱۰-۱۲ wk, ۲۲۰ ± ۲۰ gr) were divided into ۷ groups of ۵, including the control group (gavaged distilled water daily), sham group (received intraperitoneal doses of distilled water twice a week). The group received intraperitoneal ZnO-NPS (۲۵, ۵۰, and ۱۰۰ mg/kg body weight, twice a week), and gavage (۱۵۰ and ۲۰۰ mg/kg body weight daily). All stages of the test were performed in ۴ wk then serum testosterone and tissue malondialdehyde, and ferric reducing antioxidant power levels were measured, also testes histopathological evaluation was performed. Results: Our results showed that a reduced cell population of spermatozoa was observed in the group that received ۲۵ mg/kg ZnO-NPS, while a reduced cell population of spermatozoa, edema, hyperemia, and vacuolar degeneration were observed in the group that received ۵۰ and ۱۰۰ mg/kg ZnO-NPS. The maximum amount of lesions were observed in the dose of ۲۰۰ mg/kg. The highest amount of ferric reducing antioxidant power and testosterone levels were observed in the control group. Also, a ۱۰۰ mg/kg intraperitoneal dose of ZnO-NPS and ۱۵۰ mg/kg oral dose of ZnO-NPS were suitable doses to create a model of male genital lesions. Conclusion: Nanoparticles are harmful factors for the reproductive system and consequently affect infertility, which requires the toxicity of the concentration of these nanoparticles to be evaluated and controlled.

کلیدواژه ها:

Zinc oxide ، Testis ، Nanoparticle ، Oxidative stress ، Testosterone. ، اکسید روی ، بیضه ، نانوذرات ، استرس اکسیداتیو ، تستوسترون.