ASSESSMENT OF THE INFLUENCE OF SILVER IONS AND SILVER NANO-PARTICLES ON THE REPRODUCTIVE STATE, LIVER FUNCTION AND RENAL FUNCTION OF ADULT WISTAR RATS
Tracy Edoghogho Lawal and Silvanus Olu Innih*
ABSTRACT
Background of Study: The pharmacological benefits of ionic and nano particles have been widely speculated and reported, but data about their effects on fertility is grossly scarce. This research was however, carried out to study how these particles influence fertility, hepatic and the renal functions. Materials and methods: Sixty four (64) adult Wistar rats were divided into nine (9) groups, viz, NO, LD (nano particles, oral administration at low dose), NO, HD (nano particles oral administration at high dose), NP, LD (nano particles intraperitoneal administration low dose, NP, HD (nano particles intraperitoneal administration high dose), I+NO LD (ionic silver and Nano-particles, oral administration low dose, I+NO HD (ionic silver and Nano-particles, oral administration high dose, I+NP LD (ionic silver and nano-particles, intraperitoneal administration low dose), and I+NP HD - Ionic silver and nano-particles, intraperitoneal administration high dose). Results: The groups treated with NO, LD and NO, HD demonstrated greater potential benefits in positively enhancing fertility in the treated female and male rats. The NO, LD group had the highest plasma level of LH (4.47 mul/mL) compared to the control (1.37 mul/mL) and the other groups, as well as significantly decreased plasma testosterone concentration (0.00 ng/mL) compared to the control group (0.10 ng/mL) and the other groups. The NO, LD group also demonstrated a significantly high plasma FSH concentration (5.70 mul/mL) and plasma estrogen concentration (110.53 pg/mL). FSH (and LH) stimulates testicular growth and enhances the production and maturation of sperm cells. LH (25.65 mul/mL) and FSH (32.75 mul/mL) increased significantly compared to the control group, LH (5.55 mul/mL) and FSH (4.85 mul/mL), also suggesting that low dose of the particles better enhanced fertility of the treated male group. Conclusion: From the results, oral administration of low dose nano-particles could enhance the fertility of male and female.
Keywords: Ionic Silver, Nano-particles, Sperm, Liver, Wistar rat.
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