Intratracheal instillation of cerium oxide nanoparticles induces hepatic toxicity in male Sprague-Dawley rats

Abstract

Background

Cerium oxide (CeO₂) nanoparticles have been posited to have both beneficial and toxic effects on biological systems. Herein, we examine if a single intratracheal instillation of CeO₂ nanoparticles is associated with systemic toxicity in male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Methods and results

Compared with control animals, CeO₂ nanoparticle exposure was associated with increased liver ceria levels, elevations in serum alanine transaminase levels, reduced albumin levels, a diminished sodium-potassium ratio, and decreased serum triglyceride levels (P < 0.05). Consistent with these data, rats exposed to CeO₂ nanoparticles also exhibited reductions in liver weight (P < 0.05) and dose-dependent hydropic degeneration, hepatocyte enlargement, sinusoidal dilatation, and accumulation of granular material. No histopathological alterations were observed in the kidney, spleen, and heart. Analysis of serum biomarkers suggested an elevation of acute phase reactants and markers of hepatocyte injury in the rats exposed to CeO₂ nanoparticles.

Conclusion

Taken together, these data suggest that intratracheal instillation of CeO₂ nanoparticles can result in liver damage.

Keywords:

• cerium oxide nanoparticles
• systemic toxicity
• hepatic toxicity
• hydropic degeneration

Acknowledgments

Grant support for this project came from Department of Energy funding (No DE-SC0005162) to ERB. The authors would like to thank Eli Shleser for assisting in sample collection and Stephanie Woods for preparation of the paraffin-embedded sections for hematoxylin-eosin staining.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work. The findings and conclusions in this report have not been formally disseminated by the NIOSH and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy.