Abstract
BACKGROUND: Silver nanotechnology is widely applied in industry and medicine, with an increased likelihood of environmental and food contamination. AIM: This study aimed to explore the adverse effects of orally administering silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to pregnant or lactating female rats on adults and the development of their offspring. METHODS: Forty female albino rats were used to assess the immediate impacts of AgNPs in two separate experiments. The experimental group received 1 ml of AgNPs, dissolved in deionized water, at doses of 0, 50, and 100 mg/kg of body weight from the 6th to the 15th day of gestation in pregnant albino rats. After a 20-day gestation period, euthanasia was performed on the female rats, followed by a gross examination post-dissection. RESULTS: The feti were preserved in ethyl alcohol and Poin's solution for the identification of skeletal and visceral malformations. It was noticed that feti of dams that received AgNPs showed teratogenicities such as delayed ossification and deletion of bones or ribs. Notably, dams showed necrosis and satellitosis with evidence of behavioral alteration. While rats' pups showed only brain edema and no behavioral changes. CONCLUSION: AgNPs at a dose of 50 or 100 mg/kg induced teratogenic effect in terms of delayed ossification, abnormal limb formation, and brain edema in rat pups, however, induced necrosis and satellitosis in dam rats. Hence, greater emphasis should be placed on preventing exposure to Ag-NPs, especially among pregnant females.