title: Low-dose, subchronic exposure to silver nanoparticles causes mitochondrial alterations in Sprague-Dawley rats.
abstract: Nanoparticles (NPs) have increasingly been studied due to their probable harmful effects to both humans and the environment. However, despite several indications of possible harmful effects, no long-term studies using a low dose of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) have been conducted in vivo.
  
  
  
  Our data demonstrate that the prolonged exposure to a very low dose of AgNP was sufficient to cause alterations in hepatic mitochondrial function. Mitochondrial function compromised by AgNPs is recovered by pretreatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine, which highlights the crucial role of oxidative stress in AgNPs' toxicity.
  
  
  
  Our data show for the first time that even a very low dose of AgNP can cause harmful effects on mitochondrial function, thus compromising the normal function of the organ.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurosciences & Cell Biology of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|Department of Life Sciences of the Faculty of Sciences & Technology of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: João Soeiro
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Teodoro
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences of the Faculty of Sciences & Technology of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurosciences & Cell Biology of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|Department of Life Sciences of the Faculty of Sciences & Technology of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Teresa
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Varela
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurosciences & Cell Biology of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|Department of Life Sciences of the Faculty of Sciences & Technology of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Filipe Valente
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurosciences & Cell Biology of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|Department of Life Sciences of the Faculty of Sciences & Technology of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Anabela Pinto
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Rolo
authors.affiliation: 711th HPW/RHDJ, Molecular Bioeffects Branch, Bioeffects Division, Human Effectiveness Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH 45433, USA.
authors.forename: Saber
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurosciences & Cell Biology of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.|Department of Life Sciences of the Faculty of Sciences & Technology of the University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Carlos Marques
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Palmeira
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010316:Particle Size; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D059550:Toxicity Tests, Subchronic
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D012834:Silver; D000111:Acetylcysteine
keywords: low dose; mitochondrial bioenergetics; nanotoxicity; silver nanoparticles; subchronic exposure