Neuroprotective Assessment of Betaine against Copper Oxide Nanoparticle-Induced Neurotoxicity in the Brains of Albino Rats: A Histopathological, Neurochemical, and Molecular Investigation

Effects of Aluminum Oxide Nanoparticles in the Spinal Cord of Male Wistar Rats and the Potential Ameliorative Role of Melatonin

Aluminum oxide nanoparticles (Al2O3 NPs) are widely utilized in vaccine manufacturing and other medical preparations. Melatonin has numerous effects as an antioxidant and anti-apoptotic. The purpose of this study was to examine the beneficial impact of melatonin on Al2O3 NPs toxicity in the spinal cord. Forty male rats were divided into four groups: Group I, the negative controls (received standard diet and distilled water); Group II, Al2O3 NPs (received 30 mg/kg bw Al2O3 NPs); Group III, melatonin and Al2O3 NPs (received 30 mg/kg bw Al2O3 NPs + 10 mg/kg bw melatonin); Group IV, melatonin (received 10 mg/kg bw melatonin). All treatments were administered daily for 28 days by gastric gavage. After that, all rats were sacrificed, then, the samples from different spinal cords were subjected to histopathological, biochemical, and immunohistochemical analyses. Al2O3 NPs markedly elevated malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine while inhibiting superoxide dismutase and catalase. Al2O3 NPs also induced histological alterations in both gray and white matter manifested by neuronal degeneration, vacuolation, axonal degeneration, ballooning, and fusion of myelin sheaths. Furthermore, immunohistochemical results displayed a strong positive expression of caspase-3. Conversely, melatonin significantly mitigated the effects of Al2O3 NPs by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes and inhibiting malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine. Moreover, melatonin alleviated most histological alterations induced by Al2O3 NPs and reduced caspase-3 immunoreactivity. Collectively, melatonin could protect the spinal cord and mitigate Al2O3 NPs-induced neurotoxicity.

Nanoparticles induced neurotoxicity

The early development of nanotechnology has spurred major interest on the toxicity of nanoparticles (NPs) due to their ability to penetrate the biological barriers such as the BBB. This review aims at addressing how silver (AgNPs), titanium dioxide (TiO2NPs), zinc oxide (ZnONPs), iron oxide (Fe3O4NPs), carbon NPs, Copper (Cu-NPs), silicon oxide (SiO2 NPs) nanoparticles and quantum dots cause neurotoxicity. Some of the major signaling that occur are the signaling related to oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction and cell equilibrium, hence results in neuronal damage and neurodegeneration. It is critical to describe that there are multiple ways by how NPs may be toxic based on their size and surface, dosage, and the recipient's age and health condition. A review on in vitro and in vivo analysis provides information about the toxic potentials of NPs and preventive measures including modification of NP surface and antioxidant treatment. The results underline the necessity of comprehensive safety assessments to allow the further utilization of nanoparticles across the economy.

Polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics-induced neurotoxicity in adult male Swiss albino mice with amelioration of betaine: a histopathological, neurochemical, and molecular investigation

Medicines, food packaging, personal care products, and cosmetics extensively use polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics (PET-NaPs). However, they also have harmful impacts on several organs. Betaine demonstrates potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics. Our goal was to investigate the detrimental impact of PET-NaPs on the mouse brain and evaluate the neuroprotective properties of betaine. We allocated 40 completely mature male Swiss albino mice into four distinct groups: control group, betaine group, PET-NaPs group, and betaine-co-treated group. Following a 30-day duration, euthanasia was performed on the mice, and analyzed tissue samples were obtained from the cerebrum, cerebellum, and hippocampus. PET-NaPs resulted in an elevated level of malondialdehyde and upregulated cyclooxygenase-2 and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) expression while significantly reducing the levels of glutathione and downregulating acetylcholinesterase. The PET-NPs also caused significant changes in the histopathology of the brain tissue, and there was a demonstrable rise in the immunostaining of IL-1β and glial fibrillary acidic proteins. Consequently, betaine effectively alleviated the negative consequences of PET-NaPs. Therefore, betaine possesses the capacity to mitigate the neurotoxic consequences induced by PET-NaPs.

Alleviative effect of betaine against copper oxide nanoparticles-induced hepatotoxicity in adult male albino rats: histopathological, biochemical, and molecular studies

Background

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) have gained interest due to their availability, efficiency, and their cost-effectiveness. Betaine is an essential methyl donor and takes part in various physiological activities inside the body; it is found to have protective and curative effects against various liver diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate the hepatotoxic effect of CuO-NPs on adult male albino rats and the ability of betaine to alleviate such hepatotoxicity.

Methods

Forty adult male albino Wister rats were grouped into 4 groups (10 rats/group): group I a negative control, group II (CuO-NPs) injected with CuO-NPs intra peritoneal by insulin needle (0.5 mg/kg/day), group III (betaine + CuO-NPs) administered betaine orally by gavage needle (250 mg/kg/day 1 h before CuO-NPs) and CuO-NPs (0.5 mg/kg/day) finally, group IV (betaine) administered betaine orally by gavage needle (250 mg/kg/day) for consecutive 28 days. Blood and liver samples were gathered and processed for biochemical, molecular, histopathological, and immunohistochemical investigations.

Results

Group II displayed a marked rise in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Furthermore, there is an excessive upregulation of the inflammatory biomarkers interleukin1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). On the other hand, substantial reduction in glutathione (GSH) levels and significant downregulation at glutathione peroxidase (GPx) mRNA gene expression. Regarding the histopathological deviations, there were severe congestion, dilatation and hyalinization of blood vessels, steatosis, hydropic degeneration, hepatocytic necrosis, increased binucleation, degenerated bile ducts, hyperplasia of ducts epithelial lining, and inflammatory cells infiltration. Immunohistochemically, there was a pronounced immunoreactivity toward IL-1β. Luckily, the pre-administration of betaine was able to mitigate these changes. MDA was dramatically reduced, resulting in the downregulation of IL-1β and TNF-α. Additionally, there was a considerable rise in GSH levels and an upregulation of GPx. Histopathological deviations were substantially improved as diminished dilatation, hyalinization and congestion of blood vessels, hepatocytes, and bile ducts are normal to some extent. In addition, IL-1β immunohistochemical analysis revealed marked decreased intensity.

Conclusion

Betaine can effectively reduce the hepatotoxicity caused by CuO-NPs via its antioxidant properties and its ability to stimulate the cell redox system.