ABSTRACT
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) have a wide range of applications in many fields (paint, industry, medicine, additives in food colorants, and nutritional products). Over the past decade research, TiO2 NPs have been focused on the potential toxic effects of these useful materials. In the present study, we investigated the effects of subacute exposure to TiO2 NPs on emotional behavior in adult Wistar rats, the biochemical parameters, and the histology of organs. Animals were injected intraperitoneally (ip) with TiO2 NPs (20 mg/kg body weight) every 2 days for 20 days. The elevated plus-maze test showed that subacute TiO2 NPs treatment increased significantly the anxious index (AI) compared to control group. The toxicological parameters were assessed 24 h and 14 days after the last injection of TiO2 NPs. Subacute exposure to nanoparticles increased the AST/ALT enzyme ratio and LDH activity. However, the blood cell count remained unchanged, except the platelet count increase. Histological examination showed a little inflammation overall. Moreover, our results provide strong evidence that the TiO2 NPs can induce the liver pathological changes of rats. The intraperitoneal injection of TiO2 NPs increased the accumulation of titanium in the liver, lung, and the brain. The results suggest that TiO2 NPs could alter the neurobehavioral performance of adult Wistar rats and promotes alterations in hepatic tissues.
Subject(s)
Nanoparticles/toxicity , Titanium/toxicity , Alanine Transaminase/blood , Animals , Anxiety/chemically induced , Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood , Behavior, Animal/drug effects , Brain/anatomy & histology , Brain/drug effects , Brain/metabolism , Kidney/anatomy & histology , Kidney/drug effects , L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/blood , Liver/anatomy & histology , Liver/drug effects , Liver/metabolism , Lung/drug effects , Lung/metabolism , Lung/pathology , Male , Organ Size/drug effects , Platelet Count , Rats, Wistar , Thymus Gland/drug effects , Thymus Gland/pathology , Titanium/pharmacokinetics , Toxicity Tests, SubacuteABSTRACT
With the industrialization and increasing public exposure, nano-sized materials have received much more concerns. However, the impact of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on the human body, especially on the central nervous system is extremely limited. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of ZnO-NPs on the behavioral performances and the brain contents of some monoamines neurotransmitters. Male Wistar rats were treated with a single intravenous injection of a suspension of ZnO-NPs (25 mg/kg body weight). Subsequently, 14 days after nanoparticles injection, the rats were sacrificed. During that period, Morris water maze and open-field tests were performed, respectively, for the spatial working memory and the analysis of locomotor activity of the rats. The data showed that plasma and brain zinc concentrations increased after administration of ZnO-NPs. However, brain content of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine and serotonin remained unchanged in ZnO-NPs-treated rats compared with control group. The results showed also that the working memory, locomotor activity and exploratory behavior were not impaired in ZnO-NPs exposed groups. These data revealed that acute intravenous injection of ZnO-NPs does not affect neurotransmitter contents, locomotor activity and spatial working memory in adult rats. Thus, the effect of nanoparticles on the behavioral performances is still a new topic that requires more attention.
Subject(s)
Nanoparticles/toxicity , Neurotransmitter Agents/metabolism , Zinc Oxide/toxicity , Animals , Behavior, Animal/drug effects , Crystallography, X-Ray , Male , Microscopy, Electron, Transmission , Rats , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
The rapidly developing field of nanotechnology is becoming a potential source for human exposure to nanoparticles. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles have been widely produced in industrial processes for several years. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of TiO2 nanoparticles on plasmatic biochemical parameters and the emotional behavior in adult Wistar rats. Rats were treated by intraperitoneal injection of TiO2 nanoparticles (20-30 nm) at a dose of 25 mg/kg. For toxicity evaluation of nanoparticles sample, body weight, organ coefficient, blood biochemistry panel assay (AST, ALT, LDH, uric acid, creatinine, and glucose content) and emotional behavior parameters were determined. Sub-acute TiO2 nanoparticles treatment decreased the body weight, but increased the relative brain weight. Biochemical assessment in plasma samples showed that TiO2 nanoparticles injection increased uric acid concentration and AST activity in rats. However, the same treatment decreased the creatinine level, but had no effect on glucose concentration, ALT and LDH activity. The emotional behavior of control and treated rats was tested in elevated plus-maze. Interestingly, our results showed that TiO2-treated rats spent more time in the secured closed arms and entered the anxiogenic open arms less frequently than control. Our results suggest that TiO2 nanoparticles intoxication could altered biochemical parameters related to changes in organ function and leads to emotional behavior impairment of rats.
