Cytotoxic Effects of Nano-Titanium Dioxide on Forelimb Bud Development in NMRI Mouse Embryos In vivo

Background and Objective: Due to inclusion of nano titanium dioxide in substances such as sunscreens and detergents which may be used by pregnant mothers and regarding that the studies on the effects of such substances have not yet been clearly elucidated, therefore, we conducted this study to investigate the effect of TiO۲ on forelimb buds in mouse embryos. Materials and Methods: In this study, five groups of forelimb buds including control, sham, experimental group ۱ (using a dose of ۳۰ mg/kg), experimental group ۲ (using a dose of۱۵۰ mg/kg) and experimental groups ۳ (using a dose of ۵۰۰ mg/kg), were investigated. On day ۱۱ of gestation, control group without the effect of TiO۲, sham group with injection of deionized water as TiO۲ solvent and experimental groups with injection of TiO۲ (۱۰ nm particles) with doses of ۳۰, ۱۵۰ and ۵۰۰ mg/kg mouse weight were examined. Then, on day ۱۵ of gestation, embryos were removed from the mothers’ body and their forelimb buds were amputated. Results: The findings revealed a significant increase in doses ۳۰ and ۱۵۰ mg/kg in the total length of limb bud, skin thickness, the number of mesenchymal cells in fingers, degenerating chondrocyte cells in arm, and a significant decrease in the number of proliferating chondrocyte cells in arm, mesenchymal cells in palm and wrist, mitotic dividing mesenchymal cells in fingers and red blood cells in fingers. Meanwhile, it was found that the dose of ۵۰۰ mg/kg led to a significant decrease in the total length of limb bud, skin thickness of arm, number of proliferating chondrocytes in arm, red blood cells in fingers and mesenchymal cells in palm and wrist. Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed decreasing and increasing effects of cytotoxicity of TiO۲ nanoparticles on the growth of forelimb bud in mouse embryos under in vivo conditions.

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Keywords: Titanium dioxide nanoparticles , Cytotoxicity effect , Forelimb bud , Chondrogenesis , Mouse