Toxicity of iron oxide nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles and their mixture on antioxidant enzymes and free radicals in male rats

In the present study Wistar male rats were used. Rats were divided into 4 equal groups, 10 rats each. Group 1 served as control, group 2 was administered orally with Fe2O3NPs (5 mg/kg BW; >50 nm), group 3 was treated intraperitoneally with AgNPs (50 mg/kg BW; >100 nm) and group 4 was administered with the mixture of Fe2O3NPs with AgNPs. Animals were treated with the doses every day for 79 days. Results showed significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the antioxidant enzymes (GPX, GST, CAT and SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), while significant (P < 0.05) increase in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and nitric oxide (NO) in plasma and testes of rats treated with Fe2O3NPs, AgNPs and their combination compared to control group.