Assessment of the Toxic Effect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Brain, Kidney and Spleen of Adult Male Albino Rats and Possible Protective Role of Copper (II) Albumin Complex

The present study aimed to assess the toxic effect of sub chronic administration of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on brain, kidney and spleen of adult male rats and to assess the possible protective role of copper (II) albumin complex. (40) Rats were randomly divided into four equal groups and were treated once daily for 30 days as follow: Group I (control): (five received a regular diet and tap water and the others received 1 mL/day of milk (solvent of Cu (II) albumin complex) in addition to regular diet and tap water. Group II: received copper (II) albumin complex dissolved in milk (1 mL/day). Group III: received (400 mg/kg/day) of (ZnO-NPs). Group VI: received copper (II) albumin complex and ZnO-NPs (400 mg/kg/day). At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for kidney function tests and animals were euthanized for collection of organs for histopathology and immunohistochemistry. ZnO-NPs induced significant distribution of cellular and nuclear integrity, inflammatory and degenerative changes in the brain, kidney and spleen. Immunohistochemical staining showed a strong positive immunoreactivity with caspase 3 antibody. Moreover, significant increase in blood urea and serum creatinine levels were also noticed. The study group that received copper (II) albumin showed significant improvement in the toxic structural changes induced by ZnO-NPs with observed regeneration and restoration of normal histological structures and significantly reduced blood urea and creatinine levels. The Cu-II-Album complex is an effective protective agent against ZnO-NPs induced toxicity as indicated by maintaining histology of the studied organs and the renal functions.