Study of different doses of zinc oxide nanoparticles by intraperitoneal and gavage methods on testicular tissue in Wistar rats: An experimental study

BACKGROUND

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPS) are widely used inhuman life; however, they do have side effects on human health.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluatethedifferent doses of ZnO-NPS on testicular tissue.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

35 male Wistar rats(10-12 wk, 220 ± 20gr) were divided into 7 groups of 5, including the control group (gavaged distilled water daily), sham group (received intraperitoneal doses of distilled water twice a week). The group receivedintraperitoneal ZnO-NPS (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight, twice a week), and gavage (150 and 200 mg/kg body weight daily). All stages of the test were performed in 4 wk then serum testosterone and tissue malondialdehyde, and ferric reducing antioxidant power levels were measured, also testes histopathological evaluation was performed.

RESULTS

Our results showed that a reduced cell population of spermatozoa was observed in the group that received 25 mg/kg ZnO-NPS, while a reduced cell population of spermatozoa, edema, hyperemia, and vacuolar degeneration were observed in the group that received 50 and 100 mg/kg ZnO-NPS. The maximum amount of lesions were observed in the dose of 200 mg/kg. The highest amount of ferric reducing antioxidant power and testosterone levels were observed in the control group. Also, a 100 mg/kg intraperitoneal dose of ZnO-NPS and 150 mg/kg oral dose of ZnO-NPS were suitable doses to create a model of male genital lesions.

CONCLUSION

Nanoparticles are harmful factors for the reproductive system and consequently affect infertility, which requires the toxicity of the concentration of these nanoparticles to be evaluated and controlled.

Spiculopteragia asymmetrica infection in Cervus elaphus from Iran

Spiculopteragia asymmetrica is a gastrointestinal nematode frequently found in the abomasum of cervids. During December and February 2010, two red deer were died in Semeskandeh sanctuary in Mazandaran province. Moreover, five live deer from mentioned area were treated by Ivermectin and collected feces of these animals were used for assessment helminthes infection by parasitological methods. Several nematodes were recovered in abomasums and in fecal samples of treated animals. Number of worms recovered from abomasums of two dead animals were 275 (90 male and 185 female) from the first one and 327 (102 male and 225 female) from the second. Based on morphological characteristics nematodes were diagnosed as S . asymmetrica. This is the first report of existence of S . asymmetrica from cervids in Iran.