Flyer

Journal of Biomedical Sciences

  • ISSN: 2254-609X
  • Journal h-index: 18
  • Journal CiteScore: 4.95
  • Journal Impact Factor: 4.78
  • Average acceptance to publication time (5-7 days)
  • Average article processing time (30-45 days) Less than 5 volumes 30 days
    8 - 9 volumes 40 days
    10 and more volumes 45 days
Awards Nomination 20+ Million Readerbase
Indexed In
  • Genamics JournalSeek
  • China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI)
  • Directory of Research Journal Indexing (DRJI)
  • OCLC- WorldCat
  • Euro Pub
  • Google Scholar
  • J-Gate
  • SHERPA ROMEO
  • Secret Search Engine Labs
  • International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)
Share This Page

Abstract

Maternal Exposure to Nano Titanium Dioxide Induces Neurotoxic Effects in Offspring Mice

Fashui Hong, Yingjun Zhou, Jianhui Ji and Ling Wang

Although nano-TiO2 has been extensively used in food industrial application, and in daily products for infants and children, its potential neurotoxicity presents a significant concern. As previous studies have demonstrated the neurological effects of nano-TiO2 in mice, the main objective of the current investigation was to establish the effects of prenatal exposure of nano-TiO2 on developing embryos and offspring. ICR female mice were orally administered (1, 2, and 3 mg/kg body weight) nano-TiO2 from prenatal day 2 to postnatal day 21. Morphological changes, learning and memory, and potential target molecules of neurodevelopmental toxicity in offspring mice of nano-TiO2-exposed mothers were examined. The results showed that nano-TiO2 could translocate from prenatally exposed maternal to offspring hippocampi, resulting in hippocampal damage including: a 29.07%-61.4% reduction in spatial recognition; a 22.55% -61.34% reduction in total dendritic length; a 53.57%-71.42% reduction in dendritic branch number; and a 27.72%-75.74% reduction in spine density in offspring CA1 pyramidal cells. Furthermore, expression of several proteins involved in dendritic development was decreased including: a 47.62%-73.81% in microtubule-associated proteins; a 14.58%-54.17% in mitotic kinesin-like protein 1; a 1.14%-31.82% in collapsin response mediator protein 3; a 65.17%-79.05% in neuregulin tyrosine kinase receptor 4; a 1.13%-76.92% in kinesin superfamily protein 17; and a 25.73%-61.4% in post synaptic density protein -95 in offspring hippocampi. Hippocampal neurons may present a major target of neurotoxicity in offspring following maternal exposure to nano-TiO2 during the prenatal period. Therefore, food application of nano-TiO2 should be performed with caution.