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Abstract
Several in vitro studies have convincingly demonstrated that SiO2NPs mediated cytotoxicity, which was dose-, time- and size-dependent. The data on in vivo toxicity of SiO2NPs are even more contradictory. In the present study, we investigated the effects of sub-acute exposure to SiO2-NPs on spatial learning and memory, the biochemical parameters and the histology of organs. Rats were injected intravenously with a single dose of SiO2-NPs (20 mg/kg) during five consecutive days. The analysis of spatial memory in the Morris water maze showed that SiO2-NPs disrupt the cognitive abilities of rats. Moreover, SiO2-NPs could changes the blood counts. However, biochemical markers remained unchanged. Histological examination showed that SiO2-NPs induced pathological changes in rat organs. In this finding NPs were shown to cause granuloma formation and inflammatory cells infiltration in the liver.