Impact of nano silver composite structure on cadmium neurotoxicity in albino rats

Abstract

The present study was planned to investigate the possible therapeutic effects of silver/hydroxyapatite nanocomposite (nAg/HAp) on neurotoxicity induced by cadmium chloride (CdCl2) in albino rats. The nanocomposite has been formulated by a chemical route and characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray Analysis spectroscopy (EDAX). A population of rats was randomly assorted into three groups; the animals were subjected to intraperitoneal CdCl2 administration every 2 days at a dose level of 1.0 mg/kg b.wt. for 3 months while the treatment with nAg/HAp was performed via intravenous injection at a dose level of 50 mg/kg b,wt. once a week for 4 weeks. Quantitative DNA fragmentation and biochemical analysis including the content of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA), caspase-3, calmodulin (CaM), calcium adenosine 5′-triphosphatase (Ca++ATPase), tau protein, glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in brain tissue. The results revealed the potent efficacy of nAg/HAp in attenuating DNA fragmentation and partially recovering most of the investigated parameters manifested by a significant elevation in GABA, NA, DA, Ca++ATPase, and GSH levels and a decrease in tau protein, caspase-3, CaM and MDA tissue content in comparison with Cd—intoxicated groups. Accordingly, the synthesized nAg/HAp at the selected dose can be used as a biosafe intravenous injection in neurodegenerative diseases.