Background: Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are one of the most commonly used oxide nanoparticles. However, lung toxicity has been reported dependent on concentration and time of exposure. Lactoferrin (LF) exhibits both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Objective: The study aimed to identify toxic influence of ZnO-NPs on lung tissue & the possible ameliorative effect of lactoferrin on lung toxicity in adult albino rats.
Materials and methods: Forty adult male albino rats were randomly separated into 4 groups: Group I represented the control group, group II was given LF (300 mg/kg/day) orally for 3 weeks, group III was intraperitoneally injected with ZnONP 1000 mg/kg once, and group IV received LF and ZnONP concomitantly in the same dose and manner as groups II & III respectively. The lung specimens were handled for different biochemical, histological and immunohistochemical examination. Morphometrical and statistical studies were also performed. Results: ZnONP group showed disorganization of lung architecture that was verified by biochemical and histological examination. There was significant increase of the mean area % occupied by collagen fibers and immunopositive reaction of caspase 3 and NF-κB in ZnONP group. Lactoferrin administration in group IV presented improvement of all the previous results & oxidative stress biomarkers.
Conclusion: ZnONP induced lung injury, while lactoferrin ameliorated the toxic effect of ZnONP. |
