Effect of nanosilica administration on biochemical parameters in wistar rats

Thirty-five, 6-week-old, Wistar rats of both sexes were divided randomly in two groups, group I with 20 rats as control group and group II with 15 rats as treatment group. Group I was kept as control whereas, group II was orally administered with silicon dioxide (silica) nanoparticles of 20 nm diameter in distilled water. The Silica nanoparticles were administered at NOAEL dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight per day and gavaged once daily for 90 days. Blood was collected by cardiac puncture from 5 rats from each group at 0 (only from group I), 30, 60 and 90 DPT and serum was used for biochemical studies. Group II rats revealed no significant variation in total serum protein, albumin, globulin and albumin: globulin ratio as compared to group I rats. While within the group II rats at different time intervals, significant increase was seen in serum total protein, albumin and globulin values initially followed by a non-significant decrease. Serum albumin: globulin ratio revealed non-significant changes within the group II rats. Serum aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) and cholesterol values revealed a significant increase in group II rats as compared to group I rats. Within group II, at different time intervals, there was a significant increase for both AST and ALT; while, cholesterol values were found to be increased initially and decrease later on. The serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) significantly increased in group II rats as compared to group I rats. Within the group II, these values were found to be significantly increased at different time intervals. It can be concluded from the present studies that nanosilica exerted adverse effects on biochemical parameters of Wistar rats at NOAEL dose for a period of 90 days.