Abstract

Background:
Stress is a physiological response that enables animals to adapt to both internal and external stressors. Continuous exposure to intense noise during pregnancy may disrupt homeostasis and induce oxidative and inflammatory injury in maternal organs.

Aim:
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of nanocurcumin administration on transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) expression in kidney tissue and histopathological changes in the liver of pregnant mice exposed to noise stress.

Methods:
Twenty-five pregnant mice were randomly allocated into five groups (n = 5/group): K(–), untreated control; K(+), exposed to 135 decibels noise for 40 minutes/day; P1, noise + nanocurcumin 14 mg/kg body weight (BW); P2, noise + nanocurcumin 21 mg/kg BW; and P3, noise + nanocurcumin 24.5 mg/kg BW. Oral treatments were administered from gestational day 6 to 18. Kidney sections were examined immunohistochemically for TGF-β expression, and liver tissues were evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin staining.

Results:
Noise exposure was associated with increased renal TGF-β expression and greater liver histopathological damage. The P3 group showed TGF-β expression that was not significantly different from that in the negative control group. The liver histopathological scoring also showed lower degeneration and necrosis scores in P3, approaching those of the negative control group.

Conclusion:
Nanocurcumin administration was associated with lower renal TGF-β expression and less severe liver tissue injury in pregnant mice exposed to high-intensity noise. These findings suggest that nanocurcumin may have protective potential against noise-induced oxidative and inflammatory changes during pregnancy. In a broader context, this study may contribute to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by supporting maternal health under stress conditions and to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by promoting further research on plant-derived bioactive compounds as potential protective agents.

Key words: Good health and well-being; Kidney; Liver; Responsible consumption and production; TGF-β.