[Effect on conception and offspring development in female parenatal rats following intratracheal instillation of nano-C/ZnO and C-ZnO composite nanoparticles].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effects of nanoparticles with different chemical components on pregnancy outcome of pregnancy rats and their offspring.

METHODS

Pregnant rats were divided into four groups (Nano-CB group, Nano-ZnO group, nanoparticles of C-ZnO composite group and Control group) and administered with nanoparticles by intratracheal instillation at the dose of 7.5 mg/kg bw once a day for 5 days. After spontaneous delivery, the pregnancy rates, birth numbers, four-day survival rates and neurology development were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS

57.2% and 66.7% of pregnancy rates in Nano-ZnO group and Composite nanoparticles group were more lower than those of Control group (100%). Difference of birth numbers between groups was not significant. Body weights of young rats in Nano-ZnO group at the day of 4, 7 and 21 were more higher than those of other groups. Results of water maze experiment showed that the 2nd and 3rd latent time of Composite nanoparticles group were more longer than those of other groups, while the differences in latent times among Nano-CB group, Nano-ZnO group and Control group were not significant. There was no statically significant difference between particle groups and Control group in experiments of plane righting reflex and air righting reflex.

CONCLUSION

Under our experiment condition, ZnO nanoparticles could exert reproduction toxic effect on rats, whereas could promote the growth and neurology development of offspring. In addition, nanoparticles of C-ZnO Composite could exhibit adverse effect on recent memory of the offspring.