EN
Anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used in food products, capsules, toothpaste, and so on, so the kinds of NPs directly get in touch with human bodies. The potential effect of this kind of material on reproduction must be considered with the increase in infertility. Sixty ICR male mice were intragastrically treated with dosages of 0, 10, 50, and 100 mg kg⁻¹ body weight (BW) anatase TiO₂ NPs to investigate the male reproductive toxicity of the NPs. Sperm quality, morphological changes in mice testes, and oxidative damage indexes were investigated in this study. Results showed that anatase TiO₂ NPs could lead to sperm malformation and increased rate of sperm cell micronucleus. These NPs also reduced the germ cell number and led to spherospermia, interstitial glands vacuole, malalignment, and vacuolization of spermatogenic cells in mice testes. Testicular cells accumulated reactive oxygen species when the mice were intragastrically administrated with TiO₂ NPs. Superoxide dismutase activity decreased, and the malondialdehyde content increased in the TiO₂ NP-treated groups. Anatase TiO₂ NPs exerted potential toxic effects on male reproduction, so the widespread application of this kind of NP in food products needs to be regulated.