title: Vitamin E attenuates silver nanoparticle-induced effects on body weight and neurotoxicity in rats.
abstract: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are one of the most commonly used nanomaterials; however, it remains unclear whether AgNPs induce neurotoxicity. Here, we investigated the potential neurological effects of AgNPs and the neuroprotective effect of vitamin E (VE). We found that intranasal instillation of AgNPs in neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats caused significant body weight loss. Moreover, histological examinations revealed activation of neuroglial cells with concomitant destruction of the granular layer of the cerebellum. Furthermore, western blot analyses showed an increase in the levels of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a marker of astrocyte activation. These observations suggest that AgNPs have significant neurotoxic effects on the rat cerebellum. Strikingly, oral administration of VE counterbalanced the toxic effects triggered by AgNPs. Taken together, our findings suggest that nasal administration of AgNPs may produce neurotoxicity in rats, and that VE supplementation attenuates these effects.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors: Nuoya
authors: N
authors: Yin
authors: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors: Xinglei
authors: X
authors: Yao
authors: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors: Qunfang
authors: Q
authors: Zhou
authors: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China. Electronic address: faiola@rcees.ac.cn.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Faiola
authors: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors: Guibin
authors: G
authors: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012834:Silver / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009498:Neurotoxins; D014810:Vitamin E; D012834:Silver
keywords: Body weight; Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP); Neurotoxicity; Silver nanoparticles; Vitamin E