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Evaluation of the Ameliorative Effect of Zinc Nanoparticles against Silver Nanoparticle–Induced Toxicity in Liver and Kidney of Rats

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Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) have various pharmaceutical and biomedical applications owing to their unique physicochemical properties. Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace element, a strong antioxidant, and has a primary role in gene expression, enzymatic reactions, and protein synthesis. The present study aims to explore the toxic effects of Ag-NPs (50 nm) on the liver and kidney of rats and also to evaluate the potential protective effect of Zn-NPs (100 nm) against these adverse effects. Forty adult Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into four equal groups: control group, Ag-NPs group, Zn-NPs group, and Ag-NPs + Zn-NPs group. Ag-NPs (50 mg/kg) and/or Zn-NPs (30 mg/kg) were administered daily by gavage for 90 days. The results showed that exposure to Ag-NPs increased serum ALT, AST, urea, and creatinine. Ag-NPs also induced oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation and increased inflammatory cytokines in hepatic and renal tissues. Moreover, histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations revealed various histological alterations and positive caspase-3 expressions in the liver and kidney following exposure to Ag-NPs. On the other hand, most of these toxic effects were ameliorated by co-administration of Zn-NPs. It was concluded that Ag-NPs have hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects in rats via different mechanisms including oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis and that Zn-NPs can be used to alleviate these harmful effects by their antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties.

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This research work was financially supported by Cairo University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Toxicology and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

    Asmaa M. Shehata, Fatma M. S. Salem, Eiman M. El-Saied, Mohamed Y. Mahmoud & Peter A. Noshy

  2. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

    Sahar S. Abd El-Rahman

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  1. Asmaa M. Shehata
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  2. Fatma M. S. Salem
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  3. Eiman M. El-Saied
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Correspondence to Peter A. Noshy.

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Shehata, A.M., Salem, F.M.S., El-Saied, E.M. et al. Evaluation of the Ameliorative Effect of Zinc Nanoparticles against Silver Nanoparticle–Induced Toxicity in Liver and Kidney of Rats. Biol Trace Elem Res 200, 1201–1211 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-021-02713-2

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