Nanoparticles overcome biological barriers, therefore, their mother-to-offspring transmission through the placental barrier or during lactation may have deleterious effects on development and survival of the offspring. The aim of the study was to assess exposure to silver nanoparticles (AgNP) during pregnancy and lactation on cognitive impairments in the offspring in mice. This short report present unexpected findings on the effect of AgNP on fertility. Methods. Mice in the experimental group were received a solution of AgNP at concentration of 25 μg/ml in drinking water from one week before mating until the end of lactation. Mice in the control group drank clean water during the same period. The silver content in mice organs and tissues was assessed by the neutron activation analysis. The experiment to count the offspring was repeated twice. Results. In both experiments an unexpected effect was observed: in the experimental group the birth rate was approximately twice as high as in the control group. In the first experiment, 117 pups were born in the experimental group vs. 62 in the control group. The average number of pups per mouse was 4.68 (95 % CI: 3.875.61) in the experimental group and 2.48 (95 % CI: 1.9-3.18) in the control group, p < 0.001. In the second experiment there were 29 vs. 17 pups, or 5.8 (95 % CI: 3.8-8.33) and 3.4 (95 % CI: 1.98-5.44) pups per mouse, respectively, p = 0.077. In the samples of organs and tissues of the experimental mice and pups, the average silver content was 3.77 ± 2.03 and 4.13 ± 1.52 μg/g (p = 0.369), respectively. In the control group, the silver content in the samples of females and offspring did not exceed the background level of 0.05 ± 0.04 μg/g (p < 0.001). No difference in survival of the offspring was observed. Conclusions: We found a significant reproductive effect of silver nanoparticles in laboratory mice. These findings need replication in other studies. Further research on reproductive effects of silver nanoparticles is warranted.

中文翻译：

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实验室小鼠长期口服银纳米颗粒的意外生殖效应

纳米粒子克服了生物障碍，因此，它们通过胎盘屏障或哺乳期间的母婴传播可能对后代的发育和存活产生有害影响。该研究的目的是评估在怀孕和哺乳期间暴露于银纳米粒子 (AgNP) 对小鼠后代认知障碍的影响。这份简短的报告介绍了关于 AgNP 对生育能力影响的意外发现。方法。实验组小鼠在交配前一周至泌乳结束时，在饮用水中接受浓度为 25 μg/ml 的 AgNP 溶液。对照组小鼠同期饮用清水。通过中子活化分析评估小鼠器官和组织中的银含量。计数后代的实验重复两次。结果。在这两个实验中都观察到了意想不到的效果：实验组的出生率大约是对照组的两倍。在第一个实验中，实验组出生了 117 只幼崽，对照组出生了 62 只幼崽。实验组每只小鼠的平均幼崽数为 4.68（95% CI：3.875.61），对照组为 2.48（95% CI：1.9-3.18），p < 0.001。在第二个实验中，每只小鼠分别有 29 对 17 只幼崽，或 5.8（95% CI：3.8-8.33）和 3.4（95% CI：1.98-5.44）幼崽，p = 0.077。在实验小鼠和幼崽的器官和组织样本中，平均银含量分别为3.77±2.03和4.13±1.52μg/g（p=0.369）。在对照组中，雌性和后代样本中的银含量不超过0.05±0的背景水平。04 μg/g (p < 0.001)。没有观察到后代存活率的差异。结论：我们发现银纳米颗粒对实验室小鼠有显着的生殖作用。这些发现需要在其他研究中复制。有必要进一步研究银纳米粒子的生殖效应。