Gold nanoparticles alter parameters of oxidative stress and energy metabolism in organs of adult rats

Abstract

This study evaluated the parameters of oxidative stress and energy metabolism after the acute and long-term administration of gold nanoparticles (GNPs, 10 and 30 nm in diameter) in different organs of rats. Adult male Wistar rats received a single intraperitoneal injection or repeated injections (once daily for 28 days) of saline solution, GNPs-10 or GNPs-30. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, the animals were killed, and the liver, kidney, and heart were isolated for biochemical analysis. We demonstrated that acute administration of GNPs-30 increased the TBARS levels, and that GNPs-10 increased the carbonyl protein levels. The long-term administration of GNPs-10 increased the TBARS levels, and the carbonyl protein levels were increased by GNPs-30. Acute administration of GNPs-10 and GNPs-30 increased SOD activity. Long-term administration of GNPs-30 increased SOD activity. Acute administration of GNPs-10 decreased the activity of CAT, whereas long-term administration of GNP-10 and GNP-30 altered CAT activity randomly. Our results also demonstrated that acute GNPs-30 administration decreased energy metabolism, especially in the liver and heart. Long-term GNPs-10 administration increased energy metabolism in the liver and decreased energy metabolism in the kidney and heart, whereas long-term GNPs-30 administration increased energy metabolism in the heart. The results of our study are consistent with other studies conducted in our research group and reinforce the fact that GNPs can lead to oxidative damage, which is responsible for DNA damage and alterations in energy metabolism.

Histopathology of the Liver, Kidney, and Spleen of Mice Exposed to Gold Nanoparticles

“…If the proinflammatory cascade remains effective for a longer duration, it may lead to cellular injury via the excessive generation of ROS. The intraperitoneal injection of 10 nm and 30 nm GNP caused oxidative stress and altered the energy metabolism in the liver, heart, and kidneys of the rats [ 40 ]. Following the intraperitoneal injections, 10 nm diameter GNPs significantly increased liver MDA without altering GSH levels in the rat liver on day 3 and day 7 post-dosing [ 28 ].…”

The Effects of Polymer Coating of Gold Nanoparticles on Oxidative Stress and DNA Damage

“…28,29 Furthermore, oxidative stress is one of the mechanisms underlying the toxic effects of AuNPs, as also suggested for most of the nanoparticles in general. 30 -32…”

Oxidative Stress Induced DNA Damage and Reproductive Toxicity in Male Albino Mice Orally Exposed to Sorbitol

“…The data showed that sorbitol induced a significant increase in the liver catalase and serum ALT and AST, with concomitant decrease in the liver SOD activities of the treated mice. Increased catalase activity is an indication of increased oxidative stress with potential to cause more damages to the DNA, protein and lipids (Sarkar and Sil 2014;Ferreira et al 2015). Decrease in SOD activities, which is supposed to be the first line of enzyme defense against free radicals by catalyzing the dismutation of superoxide radical (O2 -) to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and molecular oxygen (O2) (Abdelhalim et al 2015), can subsequently lead to the accumulation of these free radicals in the biological system and hence be responsible for the observed cytogenotoxicity.…”