In this study, Swiss male mice were intraperitoneally administered with titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) and their mixture (1:1) at doses between 9.38 and 75 mg/kg for 5 weeks to evaluate reproductive toxicity. Both NPs and their mixture significantly (p < .001) altered sperm motility, reduced sperm numbers and increased abnormalities, while their mixture induced more sperm abnormalities than either TiO2 NPs or ZnO NPs. Both NPs and their mixture significantly (p < .05) reduced the LH level, while ZnO NPs alone and their mixture (p < .001) increased the testosterone levels at tested doses. The testes of exposed mice showed pathological changes and altered histomorphometrics. TiO2 NPs and ZnO NPs individually induced a significant (p < .01) reduction in SOD and CAT activities, while the mixture significantly (p < .001) decreased CAT activity and increased SOD activity. TiO2 NPs alone at 9.38 mg/kg induced a significant (p < .001) reduction in the GSH level, while both NPs and their mixture increased the MDA level significantly (p < .05). The data showed that the mixture had a synergistic interaction to induce testicular damage. Overall, oxidative stress may be involved in the NP-mediated testicular damage observed.
Keywords: oxidative stress; reproductive hormones; sperm parameters; titanium dioxide NPs; zinc oxide NPs.
© 2020 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.