The effect of ZnO nanoparticles on liver function in rats

Figures & data

Figure 1 Transmission electron microscope images of ZnO nanoparticles (sized 10–100 nm).

Abbreviation: ZnO, zinc oxide.

Table 1 PCR primers used for analysis of gene expression

Target	Sequences of primers (5′ to 3′)	Primer size (bp)
CYP450 1A2	GACACGGTGATTGGCAGAGAT	115
	TGGTGAAGGGGACAAAGGAT
CYP450 2C11	AATCCGCAGTCTGAGTTTACCC	175
	GGTTTCTGCCAATTACACGTTCT
CYP450 3A2	ATAAAGCCCTGTCTGATGTTGAA	194
	CATCACAATATCGTAGGTAGGAGGT
CAR	CCTTTTCCGTTCCCTGACCA	150
	ACCGCATCTTCCATCTTGTAGC
PXR	GCAGGGGCTGACAGAAGAAC	200
	CACTGTCTTTCATGATTTGACTCCA
GAPDH	CCTTCCGTGTTCCTACCCC	131
	GCCCAGGATGCCCTTTAGTG

Abbreviations: PCR, polymerase chain reaction; CYP, cytochrome; CAR, constitutive androstane receptor; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; PXR, pregnane X receptor.

Table 2 Regression equation, linear range, and LLOQ for the probe substrates used in incubations

Analytes	Regression equation	Correlation coefficient (R^2)	Linear range (ng/mL)	LLOQ (ng/mL)
Phenacetin	y =3.5473x +0.2513	0.9955	200–1,400	50
Tolbutamide	y =0.0198x −1.0885	0.9956	200–1,400	50
Testosterone	y =0.0129x −8.1329	0.9992	800–11,200	100

Abbreviation: LLOQ, lower limit of quantitation.

Figure 2 Effects of ZnO nanoparticles on hematologic indices (A) and blood chemistry values (B).

Notes: *Significant difference from the control group (P<0.05); **significant difference from the control group (P<0.01).

Abbreviations: WBC, white blood cell; Lym, lymphocytes; Mon, monocytes; Gran, granulocytes; RBC, red blood cells; MCH, mean corpuscular hemoglobin; RDW, red cell distribution width; Hgb, hemoglobin; MCV, Mean corpuscular volume; MCHC, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration; ALT, alanine transaminase; AST, aspartate transaminase; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; CREA, creatinine; ALB, albumin; GLB, globulin; γ-GT, gamma-glutamyl transferase; TG, triglycerides; A/G, albumin to globulin ratio; HCT, hematocrit; TP, total protein; TC, total cholesterol; GLU, glucose.

Figure 3 Effects of ZnO nanoparticles on concentration of cytokines.

Notes: *Significant difference from the control group (P<0.05); **significant difference from the control group (P<0.01).

Abbreviations: IL-6, interleukin-6; IFN-γ, interferon-γ; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor alpha; ZnO, zinc oxide.

Figure 4 Effects of ZnO nanoparticles on the antioxidant ability of liver.

Notes: *Significant difference from the control group (P<0.05); **significant difference from the control group (P<0.01).

Abbreviations: CAT, catalase; SOD, superoxide dismutase; GSH-Px, glutathione peroxidase; MDA, malondialdehyde; ZnO, zinc oxide.

Figure 5 Effects of ZnO nanoparticles on mRNA expression of nuclear receptors and CYP enzymes.

Notes: *Significant difference from the control group (P<0.05); **significant difference from the control group (P<0.01).

Abbreviations: CAR, constitutive androstane receptor; PXR, pregnane X receptor; CYP, cytochrome; ZnO, zinc oxide.

Figure 6 Effects of ZnO nanoparticles on the activities of liver (A) and intestinal (B) CYP enzymes.

Notes: **Significant difference from the control group (P<0.01).

Abbreviations: CYP, cytochrome; ZnO, zinc oxide.

Figure 7 Effects of ZnO nanoparticles on the histopathologic appearance of liver and kidney tissues (HE ×400).

Notes: Liver: control group (A), 100 mg/kg (B), 300 mg/kg (C), and 600 mg/kg (D). Kidney: control group (E), 100 mg/kg (F), 300 mg/kg (G), and 600 mg/kg (H). (C) Liver cells are slightly swollen (arrows). (D) The intercellular space shows evidence of minor hemorrhage (arrows). (H) The glomerular and renal tubular epithelial cells have severe hemorrhage (arrows). Microscopic abnormalities were found in the group fed with ZnO nanoparticles at dose 300 mg/kg (C and G) and more severe abnormalities in the group fed at dose 600 mg/kg (D and H).

Abbreviations: ZnO, zinc oxide; HE, hematoxylin and eosin.