Subchronic Oral Exposure to Silver Nanoparticles Induces Renal Toxicity in Wistar Rats: A 90-Day Experimental Study
Manisha Parihar *
Department of Veterinary Pathology, RPS College of Veterinary Sciences, Mahendergarh, Haryana, India.
R. S. Chauhan
Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India.
Seema Agarawal
Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India.
Digjay Vasantbhai Kabariya
Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Junagadh, India.
Bhupendra Chauriya
College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Ganganagar, Bhubaneswar, 751003, Odisha, India.
Manish Gautam
College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Ganganagar, Bhubaneswar, 751003, Odisha, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Silver nanoparticles have also been widely used for wound healing, catheter modification, dental systems, and bone tissue engineering. Recent studies have demonstrated that AgNPs incorporated in food packaging can migrate from packaging into food under several usage conditions. The current study evaluated AgNPs’ induced toxicity on the kidneys of Wistar rats after exposure for 90 days. These can accumulate in the kidneys and cause various changes after oral exposure. Out of a total of 35 experimental Wistar rats, 20 includes under control groups and 15 under AgNPs treated groups, with 5 animals per subgroup at each time point (30, 60, and 90 days). Experimental groups of rats were exposed to AgNPs by oral gavage at 30 mg/kg b. wt for a period of 90 days. Data were analysed using two-way ANOVA (treatment × time). The findings showed that the serum biochemical parameters, such as serum creatinine and urea levels, were significantly increased in the AgNPs-treated group as compared to control rats in a time-dependent manner. TBARS values were significantly increased in kidney tissues, and there was a significant reduction in CUPRAC antioxidant activity in kidney tissues of AgNPs-treated rats as compared to control rats, indicating a severe oxidative stress in kidney tissues of treated rats. Urinary analysis revealed significant levels of proteinuria in AgNPs-treated rats, which increased with increased duration of exposure. It can be concluded that AgNPs are highly toxic to the kidneys to such an extent that it effects the normal filtration and waste elimination functions of the kidney and cause immune-mediated glomerulonephritis in the kidneys.
Keywords: Ag nanoparticles, oxidative stress, subchronic toxicity, nephropathy, NOAEL, Wistar rat