Protective effects of Vitamin E against Zinc Oxide nanoparticle--induced Oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and histotoxicity of hepatic and testicular tissues in male albino rats

Nano zinc oxide has the potential to be harmful, so it is important to assess its effects on human health and the biological system. In the current study, vitamin E (100 mg/kg) was used to explore its antioxidant role in mitigating the potential toxicity of ZnO NPs (50 and 200 mg/kg) in male albino rats' tissues. ZnO NPs were synthesized and characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM). Sixty adult male albino rats weighing 180-200 g were arbitrarily divided into six groups: G1: control group, G2: vita E (100 mg/kgb.w) group, G3: Zn NPs (50 mg/kg b.w) group, G4: Zn NPs (200mg/kg b.w), G5: vita E + Zn NPs(50 mg/kg b.w) group, and G6:Vita E + Zn NPs (200mg/kg b.w) group. Giving both Vita and ZnO NPs daily by oral gavage for 4 weeks. Detailed analysis of the liver and testicular tissue of rats treated with 50 and 200 mg/kg ZnO NPs revealed many adverse effects of nanoscale particles on tissue structure, accompanied by focal necrosis, inflammatory cellular infiltration in liver tissues, and distorted seminiferous tubules with disorganized germ cells in testicular tissues, increased lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, and reduced levels of antioxidant enzymes. Due to their tiny size, which allows them to penetrate physiological barriers, ZnO NPs can enter, translocate within, and damage living organisms. Nevertheless, co-administration of ZnO NPs with Vita E significantly (p<0.05) reversed the biochemical alterations associated with ZnO NPs administration and led to improvement of the histopathological picture of hepatic and testicular tissues. Findings related to Vita E may either inhibit the activity of (ROS) molecules and prevent their binding to the DNA structure and /or scavenging peroxyl lipid radicals, inducing DNA-damaging products. So, the present results indicated that Vita E effectively attenuates the adverse effects of ZnO NPs and could mitigate or prevent their toxicity.