Biochemical parameters of nephrotoxicity of zinc hydrocarbonate nanocrystals

Creating a new drug for animals requires detailed preclinical studies of its active ingredient. The problem of mineral element deficiency in animals and poultry, on the one hand, is due to their nutritional deficiency, and on the other hand, is associated with the low bioavailability of compounds presented on the pharmaceutical market. Nanotechnologically synthesized substances are widely introduced in the world, which not only significantly increase the bioavailability of such compounds, but also reduce their toxicity in the macroform. Among them, the most common is zinc oxide – its nanoparticles (NPs), obtained by various methods, are successfully used as an effective source of zinc in poultry diets, with pronounced antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. However, most zinc compounds in nanoform still have a toxic effect on the body, especially with chronic intake. To solve this problem, we developed zinc hydrocarbonate (ZnCN) nanocrystals synthesized by the coprecipitation method, these NPs did not show acute toxicity and were classified as class VI. Further studies are aimed at determining the specific toxicity of ZnCN, including nephrotoxicity, which was the goal of this work. When ZnCN (25–200 mg/kg b. w.) was administered, no signs of intoxication were observed during the experiment. The level of biochemical markers of kidney damage was characterized by a compensatory increase during the administration of the studied compound, and after its cessation in rats of experimental groups 1–3 was at the level of the control group, and in experimental group 4 it had higher values. The urea content and the amount of creatinine in the blood plasma underwent a dose-dependent increase when administering lower doses of 25–50 mg/kg b. w. (experimental groups 1 and 2) these indicators had a slight increase during the study, and at the end of the experiment there were no significant differences from the control group. When administering higher doses of 100–200 mg/kg b. w. in rats of experimental groups 3 and 4 there was an intensification of urea formation and an increase in creatinine levels, which was obviously evidence of the rate of elimination of ZnCN in the animal body. The content of uric acid in the blood of animals of experimental groups 1 and 2 did not show an increase, and in experimental groups 3 and 4 it was higher than the control data throughout the entire period of the study. In general, no signs of pronounced nephrotoxicity of the studied NPs in the studied dosages were noted. Further studies will be aimed at determining the effects of ZnCN on the immune system, antioxidant status, and hormonal balance in animals.