Prenatal exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles increases dopamine levels in the prefrontal cortex and neostriatum of mice

Abstract

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles are widely used in cosmetics, sunscreen and as a photocatalyst. However, little is known about the biological effect of TiO₂ nanoparticles in humans and other animals. Here, we investigated whether prenatal exposure to TiO₂ nanoparticles impacted the central nervous system in mice. We measured the levels of dopamine (DA) and its metabolites in several regions of the brain in mice using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). HPLC analysis showed that DA and its metabolites were increased in the prefrontal cortex and the neostriatum following prenatal exposure to TiO₂ nanoparticles. The present study highlights the possibility that maternal exposure to TiO₂ nanoparticles might influence the development of the central dopaminergic system in offspring.