Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology (CEOG) is published by IMR Press from Volume 47 Issue 1 (2020). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with S.O.G.
Development of mammalian embryos exposed to mixed-size nanoparticles
Inhaled or ingested ultrafine nanoparticles and their effects on early pregnancy remain polemic. The objectives of the study were (a) to determine the embryotoxic effects of nanoparticles at the 2-cell stage and (b) to localize the internalized nanoparticles in the blastocyst. Thawed mouse 2-cell embryos (no. = 128) were exposed to either mixed-size polystyrene-based nanoparticles (11 million/mL) or control G 1.3 medium and assessed after 72 hours. Additionally, blastocysts (no. = 146) were exposed to nanoparticles and analyzed. The results showed that the nanoparticles did not inhibit 2-cell embryo development to the blastocyst stage (89.4 vs 96.8%; treated vs control). There were no differences in hatching (34.8 vs 43.5%), implantation (13.6 vs 24.2%) and degeneration (10.6 vs 3.2%). Delayed exposure to nanoparticles showed similar percent hatching (40.7 vs 47.3%) and implantation (l7.6 vs 20.0%). Although nanoparticles were internalized, embryo development was not inhibited suggesting a lack of embryotoxicity During hatching, the larger nanoparticles adhered to the extruding blastocyst, preferentially on trophoblasts, but interference was insignificant. Exposure to polystyrene-based nanoparticles at the concentration tested are not associated with embryonic loss.