Lung tissue alterations were size-dependent with smaller ones induced more effects and related with time exposure of gold nanoparticles

Abstract

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of intraperitoneal administration of GNPs on the histological alterations of the lung tissue of rats in an attempt to cover and understand the toxicity and the potential role of GNPs as a therapeutic and diagnostic tool. Methods: A total of 40 healthy male Wistar-Kyoto rats were exposed to GNPs received 100 μl of GNPs infusion of 10, 20 and 50 nm GNPs for 3 or 7 days. Animals were randomly divided into groups, 6 GNPs-treated rat groups and one control group (CG). Groups 1, 2 3 received infusion of 100 μl GNPs of size 10 nm (3 or 7 days), size 20 nm (3 or 7 days) and 50 nm (3 or 7 days), respectively. Results: GNPs-treated rats receiving 100 μl of 10 and 20 nm particles for 3 days demonstrated interstitial chronic inflammatory cell infiltration with extravasation of red blood cells and thickened alveolar wall and congested blood vessels while 50 nm GNPs-treated rat demonstrated interstitial inflammatory cells infiltrate with small lymphocytes, plasma cells and considerable number of eosinophils and surrounded by congested and dilated blood vessels. GNPs-treated rat which received 100 μl of 10 and 20 nm particles for 7 days demonstrated diffuse interstitial lung pneumonia with small lymphocytes and plasma cells, considerable number of eosinophils, scattered extravasation of red blood cells surrounded by thickened, dilated and congested blood vessels while 50 nm GNPstreated rat demonstrated dense interstitial inflammatory cells infiltrate of chronic type. Conclusions: The alterations induced by intraperitoneal administration of GNPs were size-dependent with smaller ones induced more affects and related with time exposure of GNPs. This study suggests that GNPs may interact with proteins and enzymes of the lung tissue interfering with the antioxidant defense mechanism and leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. © 2012 Abdelhalim MAK.