The Histopathological Effects of Silver Nanoparticleson the Liver During Gestational Stages Salih Najat F. Mohammed1, Al-Nakeeb Gazwa D.1 1Department of Biology, College of Science for Women, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq Online published on 8 March, 2019. Abstract This study aimed to investigate the histopathological effects of different doses (1, 5, and 10ppm) of silver nanoparticles colloidal solution (AgNPs) on pregnant mice during the three stages of pregnancy. A pregnant Swiss albino mice (n=60) with age (45–60) days were randomly divided into three treated groups. They were injected intra-peritoneal with AgNPs for 5 days before mating, and then for 7 days during each stage of the gestational period. The mice were sacrificed immediately after the parturition, and the livers were being collected for histopathological examination. The results showed that the AgNPs effects on the pregnant liver caused histological changes; such as congestion, leukocytes infiltration and focal aggregation of lymphocytes in all treated groups. Hydropic degeneration, hepatocytes vacuolation and focal hyalinization were highly marked in the low dose-treated groups. Increase the number of macrophages in the hepatic parenchyma, necrotic hepatocytes including councilman bodies and pyknotic nuclei, and giant cells occurred in moderate and high dose-treated groups, these signs were more intensive in the second week of pregnancy. The results suggest that the AgNPs may cause hepatotoxicity during pregnancy, as indicated in a time-depended manner and in a dose-depended manner. More researches must conduce to best understanding for AgNPs toxicity on fetuses especially during the stage of organogenesis and stage of the fetal development with growth. Top Keywords Silver nanoparticles, gestation, liver, histopathology, maternal metabolism. Top |