ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is a widely used organophosphate insecticide. Nanoparticles of zinc oxide (ZnO NPs) physically showed effective adsorbing property for some insecticides. The study was conducted to estimate the potential effect of ZnO NPs against CPF toxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four groups of male rats were used; control group and three groups received drinking water contained 75 mg/L CPF, combined 75 mg/L CPF and 200 mg/L ZnO NPs, and 200 mg/L ZnO NPs, respectively. RESULTS: CPF significantly decreased macrophage activity, serum lysozyme activity, and levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-6; increased the percentage of DNA degeneration on comet assay of lymphocytes and significantly elevated hepatic and splenic malondialdehyde contents; and decreased their glutathione contents. The liver and spleen showed marked histological alterations after exposure to CPF with decreased expression of acetylcholinesterase. The coadministration of ZnO NPs ameliorated most of the undesirable effects of CPF, through elevation of macrophage and serum lysozyme activities, increased the levels of IL-2 and IL-6, corrected the oxidative stress markers, and alleviated most of the adverse effect exerted by CPF in liver and spleen tissues. CONCLUSION: The addition of ZnO NPs to CPF-contaminated drinking water may be useful as a powerful antioxidant agent against toxic damage induced by CPF particularly in individuals who are on daily occupational exposure to low doses of CPF.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: AflatoxinB1 (AFB1) is well-known as a feed borne-hepatotoxic and immunosuppressive mycotoxin. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of nanocomposite magnesium oxide and silicon oxide (MgO-SiO2) in reducing the toxic effects of AFB1on the immunity and histological alterations in liver, spleen and intestine of adult male rats. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Animals were divided into a control (Gp1) and three experimental groups (Gps); Gp2 received feed contained 200 ppb AFB1, Gp3 received feed contained 200 ppb AFB1 and 0.5 g/kg MgO-SiO2 nanocomposite. While, rats of Gp4 received feed contained 0.5 g/kg MgO-SiO2 nano-composite. METHODS: Cellular and humoral immune responses, as well as histopathological examination and caspase-3 expression in liver, spleen, and intestine, were all evaluated. Residual concentration of AFB1was determined in serum, liver and fecal samples. The obtained data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: AFB1markedly reduced body weight gain and food and water consumption. Cellular immune response (total and differential leukocytes count, neutrophils' phagocytic activity, lymphocyte transformation, macrophage activity and serum lysozyme activity), serum total protein, and humoral immune response (fractions of protein as estimated by SDS- PAGE electrophoresis) were all severely reduced by AFB1. Moreover, AFB1induced marked histological alterations and apoptosis in liver, spleen, and intestine. CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that the nanocomposite MgO-SiO2 has high affinity to adsorb AFB1 and can effectively modulate its toxicity in rats. IMPACT STATEMENT: Nanocomposite MgO-SiO2 may offer a novel effective and cheap approach for the preventive management of aflatoxicosis in animals.
