Study of the selenium oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles combined action in a subchronic experiment on rats

Introduction. Exposure to selenium oxide nanoparticles can be combined with exposure to copper oxide nanoparticles at working place. The type of this combined action has not been previously studied. Material and methods. Stable suspensions of selenium oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles (at a single dose of 1 or 2 mg/kg of body weight) or deionized water (control) were administered to male rats 3 times a week for 6 weeks. At the end of the exposure, the toxic effect was evaluated by a large number of the animal organism indices. The statistical significance of intergroup differences was assessed using Student’s t-test. To analyze the patterns of two-factor combined toxicity, we used the Response Surface Methodology (RSM analysis). Results. Under combined intoxication with selenium oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles, liver damage was observed, assessed by a decrease in the albumin-globulin index and the content of alkaline phosphatase in the blood serum, an increase in the number of degenerated hepatocytes. Kidney function altered as indicated by a decrease in the level of urea and uric acid in the urine, creatinine in the blood serum, an increase in degenerated cells of proximal and distal tubules. The analysis of isobolograms obtained by RSM revealed the ambiguity of the type of selenium oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles combined action, depending on which effect and at which dose level it is estimated by. Conclusion. The subchronic toxicity of selenium oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles is characterized by qualitatively similar harmful effects. At the same time, the combined action of these nanoparticles is typologically ambiguous, varying from contradirectionality to synergism.