Cerium(IV) oxide is widely used as a catalyst in all aspects of human life and human beings are exposed to these materials. The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate the effect of CeO2 during pregnancy on alterations in the testis tissue and blood biochemical parameters in newborn mice. Pregnant NMRI mice were divided randomly into five groups (n = 6 for each group) including one control group and 4 treatment groups. Injection of CeO2 solution was administered intraperitoneally at the doses of 10, 25, 80, and 250 mg/kg.bw, respectively, on GD 7 and GD 14. At the end of treatment period, the testicular histological and biochemical parameters of 2- and 6-day-old newborns were analyzed, as well as the biochemical parameters in serum samples of 15-day-old newborns. The number of spermatogonia, Sertoli, and Leydig cells in the testis of the 2-day-old newborn and spermatogonia and Leydig cells in the testis of the 6-day-old newborns in the 250 mg/kg.bw CeO2 treatment group was significantly reduced compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Testis MDA of the 2- and 6-day-old newborns in the treated group receiving 250 mg/kg.bw of CeO2 was significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between serum MDA and TAC levels between the treated groups with different doses of CeO2 compared with the control group. Therefore, CeO2 given to dams during pregnancy may affect the testicular tissue and blood biochemical parameters in neonates and may be dose-dependent.
Keywords: Cerium oxide; Newborn; Pregnant mice; Testicular tissue.