Abstract

REPRODUCTIVE TOXICITY INVESTIGATION OF TITANIUM DIOXIDE NANOPARTICLES IN MALE ALBINO RATS

Ashraf M. Morgan, Marwa I. Abd El-Hamid and Peter A. Noshy*

ABSTRACT

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TDN) are widely used in paints, plastics, ceramics, cosmetics, printing ink, rubber and paper. This study was designed to investigate the reproductive toxicity of TDN in male albino rats. Forty adult male albino rats were used in this study. They were divided into 2 equal groups. Group 1 kept without any treatment and served as control and group 2 received TDN at 100 mg/kg/day orally for 8 weeks. The results revealed that TDN affected the male reproductive system as evidenced by marked reduction in body weight and relative sex organ (Testis, epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate gland) weights. Sperm motility, concentration and viability percentage were also significantly reduced after exposure to TDN with increased incidences of sperm morphological abnormalities (deformed head, detached head, curved tail and coiled tail). Serum testosterone level was also significantly compared with control. In addition, marked histopathological alterations in testis, epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate gland were observed.

Keywords: Titanium dioxide nanoparticles, TDN, reproductive toxicity, rats.