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Intranasal instillation of iron oxide nanoparticles induces inflammation and perturbation of trace elements and neurotransmitters, but not behavioral impairment in rats

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Abstract

Over the last decades, engineered nanomaterials have been widely used in various applications due to their interesting properties. Among them, iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) are used as theranostic agents for cancer, and also as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging. With the increasing production and use of these IONPs, there is an evident raise of IONP exposure and subsequently a higher risk of adverse outcome for humans and the environment. In this work, we aimed to investigate the effects of sub-acute IONP exposure on Wistar rat, particularly (i) on the emotional and learning/memory behavior, (ii) on the hematological and biochemical parameters, (iii) on the neurotransmitter content, and (vi) on the trace element homeostasis. Rats were treated during seven consecutive days by intranasal instillations at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight. The mean body weight increased significantly in IONP-exposed rats. Moreover, several hematological parameters were normal in treated rats except the platelet count which was increased. The biochemical study revealed that phosphatase alkaline level decreased in IONP-exposed rats, but no changes were observed for the other hepatic enzymes (ALT and AST) levels. The trace element homeostasis was slightly modulated by IONP exposure. Sub-acute intranasal exposure to IONPs increased dopamine and norepinephrine levels in rat brain; however, it did not affect the emotional behavior, the anxiety index, and the learning/memory capacities of rats.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Prof. Lassaad El Mir for providing iron oxide nanoparticles and the equipex NanoID (ANR-10-EQPX-39) for the access to the nanoZS. Thanks also to the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Auvergne Rhone Alpes Region (grant no. 16.007278.01 for Dalel Askri) for their funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Grenoble Alpes, PROMETHEE Proteomic Platform, IBP, CHU Grenoble Alpes, LBFA Inserm U1055 and BEeSy, Grenoble, France

    Dalel Askri & Michel Sève

  2. Fac. Sciences of Bizerte, Unit of Integrated Physiology, University of Carthage, Bizerte, Tunisia

    Dalel Askri, Souhir Ouni, Mohsen Sakly & Salem Amara

  3. Laboratory of Clinical Biology, National Institute of Neurology, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia

    Said Galai

  4. Unit of Hormonal and Nutritional Biochemistry, Department of Biology, Toxicology, Pharmacology, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, U1055, Grenoble, France

    Josiane Arnaud & Benoit Chovelon

  5. Univ. Grenoble Alpes, ISTerre, Grenoble, France

    Sylvia G. Lehmann

  6. Department of Pathological Anatomy and Cytology, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France

    Nathalie Sturm

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  1. Dalel Askri
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  2. Souhir Ouni
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  8. Mohsen Sakly
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  9. Michel Sève
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  10. Salem Amara
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Correspondence to Dalel Askri.

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The experimental protocols were approved by the Medical Ethical Committee for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of Pasteur Institute of Tunis (approval number: LNFP/Pro 152012).

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The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Askri, D., Ouni, S., Galai, S. et al. Intranasal instillation of iron oxide nanoparticles induces inflammation and perturbation of trace elements and neurotransmitters, but not behavioral impairment in rats. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 16922–16932 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1854-0

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