Background: Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TNPs) have a wide range of applications in industry, medicine and environmental technology. Nowadays, TNPs have raised researcher’s concerns on their toxicity. Lycopene is a dietary carotenoid having a potent antioxidant effect. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of TNPs on the structure of renal cortex of rats and the possible protective role of lycopene. Materials and methods Forty five adult male rats were divided into four groups: Group I: as a control group, 20 rats were used and divided equally into: Subgroup IA: negative control, Subgroup IB: given one ml corn oil by gastric tube, Subgroup IC: given one ml distilled water intraperitoneally (i.p) and Subgroup ID: given one ml corn oil by gastric tube and one ml distilled water (i.p) Group II: 5 rats received 10 mg/kg body weight (B.W) of lycopene daily by gastric tube for 4 weeks. Group III: 10 rats were injected with 150 mg/kg B.W (i.p.) of TNPs daily for 4 weeks. Group IV: 10 rats received both TNPs and lycopene as the above doses for 4 weeks. Kidney specimens were prepared and sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson’s trichrome. Immunohisto-chemical detection of desmin, anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and caspase-3 was done. Results: The results revealed that group II was nearly as group I. Group III showed congested dilated glomerular capillaries, the convoluted tubules showed exfoliation of some lining epithelial cells and degenerative changes. There were interstitial heamorrhage, mononuclear cell infiltration and increase in collagen fibers around degenerated convoluted tubules and glomeruli. There were significant increase in desmin expression in the glomerular cells, PCNA positive nuclear and caspase-3 cytoplasmic reactions in renal tubular cells. Group IV showed improvement of these changes. Conclusion: Lycopene protected rat’s renal cortex against TNPs nephrotoxicity. Key words: Kidney, lycopene, titanium dioxide nanoparticle toxicity, caspase-3, desmin, PCNA. |
