Neurotoxic effects of silver nanoparticles and the protective role of rutin

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy Vol. 90; pp. 731 - 739
• Main Authors: Ahmed, Mona M, Hussein, Mohamed M.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01.06.2017
• Subjects: Amino Acids - metabolism; Animals; Brain; Internal Medicine; Male; Medical Education; Metal Nanoparticles - adverse effects; Monoamine Oxidase - metabolism; Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism; Neurons - drug effects; Neurotoxicity Syndromes - drug therapy; Neurotransmitter Agents - metabolism; Neurotransmitters; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Protective Agents - administration & dosage; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate - metabolism; Rutin; Rutin - administration & dosage; Silver - adverse effects; Silver nanoparticles; Transcription, Genetic - drug effects; Brain; Neurotransmitters; Rutin; Silver nanoparticles
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.04.026

Abstract The toxicological studies on silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) have become a hot topic over the past few decades due to their unique properties on the nanoscale and widespread in many commercial products that launched into the market recently. This study was undertaken to shed light on Ag-NPs toxicity on neurotransmitters with special emphasis on the impact of concurrent administration of rutin with Ag-NPs in the experimental rats. The oral administration of Ag-NPs in rats induced brain oxidative stress, significant alterations in neurotransmitters and amino acids. Furthermore, transcriptional levels of glutamatergic N-methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptors, monoamino oxidases (MAO-A, MAO-B) and metallothionein-III (MT-III) showed a significant elevation in Ag-NPs intoxicated rats. Moreover, histological examinations revealed astrogliosis and demyelination of neurons concomitant with neuronal degeneration and vacuolation. Strikingly, oral administration of rutin counterbalanced the toxic effects triggered by Ag-NPs. Taken together, our findings suggested that oral administration of Ag-NPs induced neurotoxicity in rats and rutin mitigates these effects.