Nanosized titanium dioxide-induced premature ovarian failure is associated with abnormalities in serum parameters in female mice

Figures & data

Figure 1 Effects of TiO₂ NPs on net increase in BW and ovarian weight after gavage administration for 30 days.

Notes: Different letters within the same parameter indicate significant differences between groups (p < 0.05). Values represent mean ± SD (n = 10).

Abbreviations: BW, body weight; TiO₂ NPs, titanium dioxide nanoparticles.

Figure 2 Effect of TiO₂ NPs on conception in female mice after gavage administration for 30 days.

Notes: Different letters within the same parameter indicate significant differences between groups (p < 0.05). Values represent mean ± SD (n = 10).

Abbreviations: BW, body weight; TiO₂ NPs, titanium dioxide nanoparticles.

Figure 3 Histopathological examination of ovary of mice following gavage administration of TiO₂ NPs for 30 days.

Notes: (A) Control groups (unexposed mice) present normal development of primary follicles (black arrow) and secondary follicles (yellow arrow); (B) the 2.5 mg/kg TiO₂ NP-exposed group shows atrophic secondary follicle (yellow arrow), primary follicle atresia (green arrow) and apoptosis of granule cells (blue arrow); (C) the 5 mg/kg TiO₂ NP-exposed group shows large primary follicle atresia (green arrow) and granule cell apoptosis (blue arrow), and (D) the 10 mg/kg TiO₂ NP-exposed group shows severe inflammatory cell infiltration (green circle), congestion (yellow circle), significant primary follicle atresia (green arrow) and disposed disorder or apoptosis of granule cells (blue arrow).

Abbreviation: TiO₂ NPs, titanium dioxide nanoparticles.

Table 1 Changes in serum parameters involved in autoimmune response in female mice caused by gavage administration of TiO₂ NPs for 30 days

Serum parameters	TiO2 NPs (mg/kg BW)
	Control	2.5	5	10
FSH (IU/L)	2.28 ± 0.31^a	3.98 ± 0.45^b	4.05 ± 0.41^b	6.79 ± 0.78^c
LH (IU/L)	2.35 ± 0.26^a	3.31 ± 0.36^b	3.39 ± 0.39^b	4.90 ± 0.58^c
Ratio of FSH/LH	0.97 ± 0.14^a	1.10 ± 0.17^a	1.41 ± 0.18^b	1.49 ± 0.21^b
AMH (pmol/L)	10.79 ± 1.25^a	11.21 ± 1.35^a	14.86 ± 1.61^b	19.09 ± 2.08^c
Inhibin B (pg/mL)	36.59 ± 3.27^a	28.82 ± 3.12^b	27.66 ± 2.49^b	15.03 ± 1.15^c
E2 (pmol/L)	152.16 ± 12.31^a	145.29 ± 16.74^a	120.51 ± 14.31^b	111.36 ± 9.91^b
P (nmol/L)	30.29 ± 3.02^a	25.25 ± 2.76^b	23.67 ± 2.43^b	11.72 ± 1.29^c
PRL (μg/L)	0.87 ± 0.11^a	1.02 ± 0.16^a	1.75 ± 0.22^b	1.89 ± 0.25^b
TSH (pg/mL)	53.4 ± 5.67^a	40.9 ± 4.25^b	38.1 ± 3.92^b	34.8 ± 3.61^b
fT3 (pmol/L)	18.71 ± 1.94^a	24.75 ± 2.88^b	27.96 ± 2.93^b	30.77 ± 3.74^b
fT4 (μg/L)	97.45 ± 9.87^a	131.23 ± 15.13^b	199.10 ± 20.62^c	210.62 ± 23.51^c
ANA (ng/L)	25.25 ± 2.71^a	29.44 ± 3.31^a	36.87 ± 3.82^b	38.56 ± 4.09^c
TPO-Ab (mU/L)	149.05 ± 15.48^a	160.53 ± 19.15^a	213.08 ± 22.63^b	226.09 ± 24.12^c

Notes: Different letters within the same parameter indicate significant differences between groups (p < 0.05). Values represent mean ± SD (n = 5).

Abbreviations: AMH, anti-Müllerian hormone; ANA, anti-nuclear antibody; BW, body weight; FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone; fT3, free triiodothyronine; fT4, free tetraiodothyronine; LH, luteinizing hormone; PRL, prolactin; TiO₂ NPs, titanium dioxide nanoparticles; TPO-Ab, thyroid peroxidase antibody; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone.