title: Silver nanoparticle exposure attenuates the viability of rat cerebellum granule cells through apoptosis coupled to oxidative stress.
abstract: The impact of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the central nervous system is a topic with mounting interest and concern and the facts remain elusive. In the current study, the neurotoxicity of commercial AgNPs to rat cerebellum granule cells (CGCs) and the corresponding molecular mechanism are closely investigated. It is demonstrated that AgNPs induce significant cellular toxicity to CGCs in a dose-dependent manner without damaging the cell membrane. Flow cytometry analysis with the Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) staining indicates that the apoptotic proportion of CGCs upon treatment with AgNPs is greatly increased compared to the negative control. Moreover, the activity of caspase-3 is largely elevated in AgNP-treated cells compared to the negative control. AgNPs are demonstrated to induce oxidative stress, reflected by the massive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the depletion of antioxidant glutathione (GSH), and the increase of intracellular calcium. Histological examination suggests that AgNPs provoke destruction of the cerebellum granular layer in rats with concomitant activation of caspase-3, in parallel to the neurotoxicity of AgNPs observed in vitro. Taken together, it is demonstrated for the first time that AgNPs substantially impair the survival of primary neuronal cells through apoptosis coupled to oxidative stress, depending on the caspase activation-mediated signaling.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, PO Box 2871, Beijing 100085, China.
authors: Nuoya
authors: N
authors: Yin
authors: Qian
authors: Q
authors: Liu
authors: Jiyan
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: He
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Cui
authors: Zhuona
authors: Z
authors: Li
authors: Zhaojun
authors: Z
authors: Yun
authors: Guangbo
authors: G
authors: Qu
authors: Sijin
authors: S
authors: Liu
authors: Qunfang
authors: Q
authors: Zhou
authors: Guibin
authors: G
authors: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000187:drug effects*; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000187:drug effects*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012834:Silver