Biosafety of Carbon Nanotubes during Pregnancy Investigated in Iran

Iranian veterinary researchers from Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz in association with researchers from Veterinary Faculty of Razi University of Kermanshah studied the effects of carbon nanotubes during pregnancy on the evolution of neural systems in offsprings, and they also investigated the probable changes in reproducing indices.

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2013-12-26

Results of the research will provide various industries and jobs, including medical industries, with useful information.

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The experiment was carried out on 30 female rats classified in three groups of 10. Dosages of 1 and 10 mg of multi-walled carbon nanotubes were prepared in phosphate buffer solution, and it was intraperitoneally injected to the rats in two stages on the day of mating and three days after the mating. The control group received only phosphate buffer solution in each stage of injection. Pregnant rats were studied during the pregnancy.

Some tests were carried out for 15 days after the delivery to investigate the progress in reflections and neurobehavioral performances.

Results of the research showed that exposure to carbon nanotubes during pregnancy could not lead to permanent malfunction in reproducing indices. However, a delay related to the dosage in the appearance of some of neurobehavioral endpoints can be considered a warning to pregnant women and mothers who breastfeed their children so they would not be in contact with such nanostructures. Moreover, newly-born rats whose mothers were exposed to nanotubes suffered more from depression and anxiety in comparison with the control group. The weight of internal organs, which is a sign of the toxicity of carbon nanotubes, showed a decreasing trend in these newly-born rats.

Source: Nanotechnology Now

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