Effects of Silver Nanoparticle Exposure to the Testicular Antioxidant System during the Prepubertal Rat Stage

Humans and environments are constantly exposed to a wide range of commercial products containing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in their composition. The hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HP-testicular) axis is sensitive to low doses of AgNPs with repercussions in sperm functionality. The oxidative stress may be related to the pathogenesis of sperm alterations because Ag⁺ ions are released from AgNPs in the corporal fluids. This study aimed to investigate the effects of AgNP exposure in the antioxidant defense system. For this, the transcript expression and the activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and glutathione reductase (GSR) enzymes were evaluated in the testis of rats exposed during the prepubertal period to increasing doses of AgNPs (1.875, 3.75, 7.5, or 15 μg of AgNPs/kg). The higher dose of AgNPs (15 μg/kg) investigated promoted increases in the activity of CAT, GPX, and GSR enzymes and in the expression of Gpx4 var1 transcript. The exposure to 7.5 μg/kg of AgNP increased the Gpx4 var1 mRNA expression. In the group that received 3.75 μg of AgNP/kg, the expression of Sod1, Gpx4 var2, and Gsr transcripts was decreased while the Gpx4 var1 mRNA expression was augmented. The lower dose of AgNPs tested (1.875 μg/kg) increased the expression of Cat and Gpx4 var1 transcripts. Thus, AgNP alters the expression and activity of the antioxidant enzymes in a nonmonotonic dose-response curve and directly or indirectly modulates the events related to spermatogenesis process.