SILVER NANOPARTICLES STIMULATE SPERMATOGENESIS IMPAIRMENTS IN TESTIS AND EPIDIDYMIS

Abstract

This research focuses on the further study of new effects of hybrid nanocomposites based on branched copolymers of dextran-polyacrylamide in nonionic, D-g-PAA and anionic D-g-PAA(PE) form, with included silver nanoparticles (AgNP) on the male reproductive function using male mammals (mice), which has not been studied before. D-g-PAA (0,172 mg/ml), D-g-PAA(PE) (0,172 mg/ml), D-g-PAA/AgNPs (0,092 mg-Ag/ml), D-gPAA(PE)/AgNPs (0,092 mg-Ag/ml) saline solution were introduced by intratesticular injection (in 0,2 mL) once a day, five times. For the first time it was shown, that under conditions of five times treatment with D-gPAA(PE)/AgNPs (silver nanoparticles in the polymeric matrix D-g-PAA(PE)) were found the disorder of reproductive function in male mice: significant changes in the viability and death of spermatozoa and of spermatocytes (primary), as well as an increase in pre- and post-implantation embryonic mortality rates. However, under conditions of treatment with D-g-PAA and D-g-PAA(PE), as well as D-g-PAA/AgNPs, no significant changes in the values of 1) number of live newborns (pups) per female; 2) pre- and post-implantation mortality rates of embryos were established; 3) sperm and abnormal sperm forms (%); 4) spermatocytes (primary) and spermatids (%); 5) living, apoptotic and necrotic cells in the testicular cells (spermatocytes (primary)) and in the epididymis cells (spermatozoa). The data obtained indicate that branched star-like polymers in anionic form with incorporated silver nanoparticles (D-g-PAA(PE)/AgNPs) stimulate spermatogenesis impairments in testis and epididymis of male mice. Our data suggest that treatment with such silver nanosystems (silver nanoparticles in the polymer matrix D-g-PAA(PE)) are not critically dangerous for therapeutic use and requires further study.