The Effect of Zinc Nanoparticles on Adult Rat Prostate Gland and the Possible Protective Role of Rutin: Histological and Biochemical Study

Abstract

Introduction: Zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs) usage is evolving in different industrial and medical applications. However, recently nanoparticles were reported for their harmful effects. Rutin is a flavonoid that presents in plants, many veg¬etables, and fruits. It is considered a strong antioxidant. Aim: To detect the effect of ZnNPs on the adult rat prostate gland and evaluating the possible protective effect of Rutin. Materials and Methods: Fifty adult male albino rats were divided into four groups: Group I (control), Group II (ZnNPs group) rats received ZnNPs in a dose of 100 mg/kg via oral gavage feeding needle for 28 days. Group III (Rutin group): rats received rutin in a dose of 50 mg/kg via oral gavage feeding needle for 28 days. Group IV (ZnNPs- Rutin group): rats received Zn NPs and rutin at a dose and route as groups II, III. After 28 days, rats were weighed; blood samples were collected then sacrificed. The prostate glands were dissected and processed for histological (LM and EM), immunohistochemical, and biochemical studies with morphometric analysis. Results: Light microscopic examination of Group II sections revealed degeneration of acini, vacuolation, and pyknotic nuclei of their lining cells. A highly statistically significant increase in thickness of the fibromuscular stroma (P 0.001) in Masson Trichrome sections and a highly statistically significant increase (P 0.001) in positive PCNA immunoreactions in the nuclei of epithelial cells were detected. Ultrathin sections showed vacuolations in acinar cells cytoplasm. Those findings are associated with a highly significant increase in Malondialdehyde, and Prostatic specific antigen. On the contrary, Group IV sections displayed restoration of prostatic acini arrangement with areas of hyperplasia and a statistically decrease in MDA, PSA. Conclusion: These findings evidenced that Rutin had a natural protective role against ZnNPs induced prostatic cell injury in rats.