Electron microscopic ultrastructural study on the toxicological effects of AgNPs on the liver, kidney and spleen tissues of albino mice.
The present study deals with the intraperitoneal administration of 500, 1000, 3000, and 5000mg/kg of AgNPs in albino mice for 28 days to evaluate the potential toxicological effects of AgNPs on blood biochemical parameters and to investigate the light and electron microscopic histopathological alterations on three major targets organs i.e., liver, kidney and spleen. The AgNPs was well tolerated and no mortality was observed even at the highest dose i.e., 5000mg/kg. Mice treated with 500 and 1000mg/kg AgNPs did not show significant behavioral, biochemical and ultrastructural pathological changes. Mice treated with 1000mg/kg AgNPs produces little ultrastructural alteration in liver, kidney and spleen. However, mice treated with 3000 and 5000mg/kg AgNPs revealed significant changes in biochemical parameters. Electron microscopic ultrastructural investigation of liver and kidney shows that the administration of 3000 and 5000mg/kg AgNPs revealed irregularity in the nuclear membrane, nuclear chromatin condensations, degenerated hepatocytes, swollen and pleomorphic mitochondria with distorted cristae, extensive dilation of rough endoplasmic reticulum, destructed cytoplasm, hypertrophied and fused podocytes and thickened basement membrane in the endothelial cells of the proximal tubules. The spleen sections at 3000 and 5000mg/kg AgNPs revealed megakaryocytes hyperplasia, lobulations, invaginations and folding of nuclei and nuclear membrane. The present research indicates that AgNPs were well tolerated at the lower doses, but significant alterations in liver, kidney and spleen were observed at the higher doses tested. It is, therefore, suggested that further studies are needed for the minimization of the observed side effects, especially at higher doses before AgNPs being applied in pharmaceutical application.
Dept. of Clinical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Science, Buraydah College, P.O. Box 6699 Buraydah 51452 Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia; Nanotechnology and Antimicrobial Drug Resistance Research Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College & Hospital, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202002, U.P., India. Electronic address: azammicro@gmail.com.
Mohammad Azam
MA
Ansari
King Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Arun Kumar
AK
Shukla
Center of Excellence in Environmental Studies, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Mohammad
M
Oves
Nanotechnology and Antimicrobial Drug Resistance Research Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College & Hospital, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202002, U.P., India.
Haris M
HM
Khan
D000818:Animals; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D012834:Silver / Q000633:toxicity*; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure
D012834:Silver
Chromatin condensation; Electron microscopy; Hyperplasia; Megakaryocytes; Pleomorphic mitochondria; Silver nanoparticles; Ultrastructural