Toxicological Impact of Nanoparticles on Reproductive System: A Review

Abstract

The widespread utilization of Nanoparticles (NPs) in industrial, medical, and consumer goods prompted worries about their possible toxicity. Growing concerns towards individual well- being may however impede the widespread use of this intriguing invention. Although people are exposed to nanoparticles from an early age, but it has increased significantly in the past several years owing to anthropogenic sources of these nanoparticles. The consequences of nanoparticles on the male and female reproductive system are addressed in this review. NPs can infiltrate the epithelial barrier, placental barrier, and blood-testis-barrier and then amass in reproductive organs. NPs amassing impairs organs such as the testis, ovaries and uterus via obliterating Leydig cells, Sertoli cells and Germ Cells, exacerbating reproductive system impairment which unduly affects the quality, amount, morphology, and mobility of sperms or decreasing the amount of egg maturation and distress the folliculogenesis mainly primary and secondary follicular development. NPs may also alter secreted hormone levels and induce effects on sexual behavior. These detrimental effects correlate to nanoparticle composition, surface modification, dosage, mode of transmission and animal species. The current review, however, concentrates on nanoparticles induced toxicological issues and their potential toxicity mechanisms such as oxidative damage, apoptosis, inflammation as well as genotoxicity. NPs may enhance inflammatory response, and oxidative stress, and produce ROS damage, which leads to cytotoxicity at both molecular and genetic levels.