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Acute intravenous exposure to silver nanoparticles during pregnancy induces particle size and vehicle-dependent changes in vascular reactivity
Vidanapathirana, A. K., Thompson, L. C., Herco, M., Dawkins, J. O., Sumner, S., Fennell, T. R., Brown, J. M., & Wingard, C. J. (2013). Acute intravenous exposure to silver nanoparticles during pregnancy induces particle size and vehicle-dependent changes in vascular reactivity. The Toxicologist, Supplement to Toxicological Sciences, 132(1), 220-221.
With increasing use of engineered silver nanoparticles (NP) in different settings there are concerns regarding their safety particularly in vulnerable life stages such as pregnancy. Effects of silver NP on maternal vascular reactivity have not been extensively investigated despite potential occupational, therapeutic and environmental exposure. Our hypothesis was: the acute intravenous (IV) exposure to silver NP during late stages of pregnancy increases the vasoconstrictor response in the uterine artery. Pregnant (17-19 days) Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to a single dose of 20 or 110 nm silver NP (200 μg) suspended in polyvinylpyrorrolidone (PVP) or citrate solutions. 24 h post-exposure vasomotor responses of segments of the main uterine artery and thoracic aorta were assessed using wire myography. Cumulative dose-response curves were constructed for acetylcholine, angiotensin II, endothelin SOT 2013 ANNUAL MEETING 221 1 and Rho kinase inhibitor (HA1077). The response to phenylephrine was studied in the presence and absence of COX inhibitor, indomethacin. Dose-response curves, maximum stress and EC50 values were different for silver NP exposed animals when compared with vehicle controls. Reciprocal changes were seen between the aortic and uterine vessels: greater vasoconstriction in uterine artery and greater vasodilation in aorta following 110 nm sliver exposure. Exposure to 20 nm silver NP increased the HA1077 mediated vasodilatation in aortic segments suggesting a possible mechanism underlying the changes of agonist mediated vasoconstrictor response following NP exposure. NP suspensions in citrate lead to higher stress generation in both vessels. IV exposure to silver NP during pregnancy induces particle size and vehicle dependent changes in vascular reactivity which can potentially influence blood supply to the fetus. This work is supported by NIEHS U19 ES019525.
