A Single and Repeated Exposure to Silver Nanoparticles Results in Liver and Kidney Toxicity in Mice

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in various fields, including medicine, food, and personal care. However, their widespread use in daily life has raised concerns about public health. This study investigated the liver and kidney toxicity caused by AgNPs in mouse models after single and repeated exposure. Among the 45 mice, the treatment groups received 200 mg/kg body weight of AgNPs on a single and repeated basis. The liver and kidneys were collected, weighed, and examined histopathologically. Anatomically, the liver and kidneys exhibited congestion and hemorrhage in the AgNPs-treated groups. The AgNPs-treated group showed a reduction in liver and kidney weight at 7 and 15 days. Histologically, a single exposure to AgNPs resulted in liver and kidney toxicity at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours. This included inflammatory cell infiltration, vascular occlusion, and degenerating cells in the liver, as well as deformed glomeruli, enlarged capsular spaces, and vacuolated tubular epithelial cells in the kidney. The effects became more pronounced with repeated exposure. Daily exposure for 7 to 15 days resulted in increased numbers of degenerating cells in the liver, significant damage, and sinusoidal dilation. In the kidney, there was an increase in renal capsular space, glomerular damage, and tubular dilation. Severe pathological lesions were noted in the 15-day-treated group compared to the 7-day-treated group. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that AgNPs have the potential to cause adverse effects on the liver and kidneys. These results will contribute to a broader discussion on the toxicity and regulatory considerations of AgNPs usage.