The Effect of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on the Developing Retina

Abstract

 

Purpose

 

To investigate whether TiO2 NPs was toxic on zebrafish embryos and developing retina via aqueous exposure.

 

Methods

 

Embryonic zebrafish were exposed to TiO2 NPs at a concentration of 1mg/L from 1-4 cell stage to 72 hpf. The mortality and hatching rate were calculated at 24 hpf and 48 hpf respcetively. An mRNA probe for atonal homolog 7 (atoh7) was used as a marker to explore whether the neurogenesis initiated on time. Differentiation of ganglion cells, cones and rods was determined using immunohistochemistry at 72hpf with Zn12, Zpr1 and Zpr3 antibodies respectively. Microglia in the brain and retina were labeled using an mRNA probe for fms.

 

Results

 

TiO2 NPs exposure did not induce any embryonic developmental malformations. The onset of neurogenesis and neuronal differentiation were not delayed following TiO2 exposure. The location and number of microglia didn’t have a significant difference between the TiO2 NPs exposed and control group.

 

Conclusions

 

TiO2 NPs exposure at 1mg/L doesn’t disrupt the development of zebrafish embryos and retinal neurogenesis.

 

 

 

Keywords: 608 nanomedicine • 698 retinal development