Gestational Exposure to a Commercial Tooth Whitening Agent Containing Carbamide Peroxide Induces Locomotory Changes and Tissue Damage in Mice Newborns

Abstract

The present study evaluates the impact of gestational exposure to a commercially available tooth whitening agent in mice newborns. A total of 20 male mice and 60 female Swiss albino mice were used in the study. After mating, 30 pregnant mice were obtained which were divided into three (3) groups. Group I consisted of 6 pregnant mice which received distilled water by oral gavage from the first day of pregnancy until the 15th day after birth; Group I: included 12 pregnant mice which received 200 mg/kg body weight tooth whitening agent and Group III included 12 pregnant mice which received 500 mg/kg body weight tooth whitening agent. Locomotory behaviour, haematological parameters such as Hb, RBC and WBC counts, the antioxidant activity of brain tissue and also histopathology of spleen, liver, gastric mucosa and brain tissues of the control as well as experimental (tooth whitening agent exposed) mice newborns were studied. The locomotor activity of the tooth whitening agent exposed offspring was significantly reduced when compared to the control. Also, the exposed offspring had shown high WBC count and decreased level of antioxidants. The results of this study further confirm that gestational exposure to a tooth whitening agent induces oxidative stress and histopathological alterations in gastric mucosa and brain in experimental group.