Biochemical and histopathological ultrastructural changes caused by ZnO nanoparticles in mice |
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Authors: | Mohammad Azam Ansari Haris M Khan Aijaz A Khan Mohammad A Alzohairy |
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Institution: | 1. Nanotechnology and Antimicrobial Drug Resistance Research Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College &2. Hospital, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India;3. Department of Anatomy, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College &4. Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Science, Buraydah Pvt College, Saudi Arabiaazammicro@gmail.com;6. Department of Anatomy, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College &7. Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Science, Buraydah Pvt College, Saudi Arabia;8. Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Science, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia |
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Abstract: | Five week-old mice were divided into a vehicle control group, and groups exposed to ZnO nanoparticles at low (0.5 g/kg), middle (1 g/kg), high (3 g/kg), and exceptionally high-dose (5 g/kg). After the first, second, third, and fourth weeks’ of exposure, blood biochemistry, histopathology, and electron microscopic ultrastructural changes in liver, kidney and spleen were investigated. Increased alkaline phosphatase activities were observed in all treated mice being statistically significant at higher dose. No changes were observed in the serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and lipid levels. During the first and second weeks of the treatment, effects on the cytoarchitecture of liver, kidney, and spleen were not perceived while during the third and fouth weeks of treatment sporadic mild effects were seen. Ultrastructural electron microscopic changes in liver, kidney, and spleen were not observed for the low-dose group on the first, second, third, and fourth weeks, suggesting that exposure to ZnO nanoparticles at low dose is safe. Long-term (i.e., more than 28 days) exposure to the exceptionally high-dose resulted in sporadic changes in nuclear chromatin condensation, irregular nuclear membrane, polymorphic mitochondria, mitochondrial swelling, and vacuolation. ZnO nanoparticles could be well tolerated and no death occurred in any group of treated mice. |
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Keywords: | ZnO nanoparticles ultrastructural changes nuclear chromatin condensation polymorphic mitochondria electron microscopy |
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