Influence of Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Reproductive Functions of Female Rats

The current study aims to investigate the dose and time dependently effects of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (m-IONPs) on female rat’s reproductive functions. Sixty four mature female rats, aged 90 days 164±4.5 g. were divided to control (C) and three treatment groups (16 females each); orally administered with distilled water, and 1, 5, 10 mg/kg/day of IONPs solution (TL, TM, and TH groups), respectively, for 28 days. Eight females from each group were sacrificed after 14 and 28 days of treatment periods. After each period, the females were weighted and sacrificed. Decreased body weight and genital organ weights were shown in TM and TH groups, at both experimental periods, compared with control in a dose-dependent manner. Serum concentration of GnRH, FSH, LH, and estradiol increased in TL group and decreased in TM and TH groups compared with control in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. At both periods, the lowest expression levels (p˂0.05) of pituitary FSHβ and LHβ genes and ovarian FSHR, aromatase, and fecβ genes were recorded in TM and TH groups and the highest levels were expressed in TL group. The ovarian sections of TL females, showed normal architecture, but those from TM and TH groups showed degenerative changes, reduced population of mature follicles. In conclusion, the low dose of mIONPS has improving effect on female reproduction, whereas middle or high doses have pathological effects on reproductive organs.