Aim and Background:Nano-silver as a disinfectant is used for the sterilization of medical laboratory tools, but less attention has been tentative the toxicity of the substance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Nanosilver on fetal rat liver tissue and determine the expression of MDA levels as an oxidant biomarker and Superoxide dismutase as an antioxidant enzyme.

Material and methods:In this study, 16 pregnant Wister rats (in four groups of four) and placebo were treated orally for 18 days with silver nanoparticles of 20 nm in concentration of 125, 750 and 1500 mg/kg/day.

The fetuses had been harvested via caesarean after 18 days of gestation to measure the gene expression of SOD in their liver by quantitative RT-PCR method and MDA activity by Satoh protocol in their liver.

Results:The highest expression of MDA was detected in the treatment of 750 mg/kg/day, but in comparison to the normal group which showed approximately 68% decrease in concentration. The highest expression of SOD was related to 750 mg/kg/day group which was upregulated 22.4% in comparison to normal group, and the lowest expression was shown in 125 mg/kg/day group which was approximately downregulated 5.75 % compared to normal group.

Conclusion:Nano silver particles involved in the process of oxidative/antioxidant system caused by arise of free radical production. Antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase as free radical scavenger was upregulated to detoxify microenvironment. The result of this study revealed that intracellular processes of oxidant/antioxidant system in rat embryo liver were affected by various concentrations of Nano silver particles.