Morphological and morphometric characteristics of the liver in exposed to ferrihydrite nanoparticles

Abstract

Introduction. Ferrihydrite nanoparticles (FNPs) are promising for various biomedical applications. However, the use of FNPs is associated with biosafety issues. The liver is one of the critically important organs exposed to nanomaterials. It plays a central role in metabolism and detoxification, and its damage can lead to serious adverse consequences. Therefore, studying effects of FNPs on the liver is a relevant and important task. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of FNPs on the liver morphological structure after oral administration, depending on the method of FNP synthesis. Methods. The experiment was performed on 3 groups of laboratory mice (males, n=55): group 1 (n=15), control that was fed food not supplemented with FNPs; group 2 (n=20), experimental group, was fed food supplemented with synthetic FNPs; group 3 (n=20), experimental group, was fed food supplemented with biogenic FNPs. The feed mixture for the experimental groups was prepared in a laboratory mixer SL-12pnd. Biological material was sampled on days 1, 22, and 36 of the experiment. Liver samples were prepared according to standard histological methods and stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and with Perls Prussian blue to detect iron nanoparticles. The morphometric analysis of liver tissue was performed using the ViodeoTesT-Morphology 7.0 software. The significance of cross-sample differences (p) was assessed using the Mann−Whitney U-test. The significance of differences between dependent samples was assessed using the Wilcoxon T-test. Differences were considered statistically significant at p<0.05. Results. The administration of FNPs with food leads to statistically significant changes in the morphometric parameters of the liver. In experimental groups 2 and 3, the diameter of the interlobular veins was significantly increased, which was associated with a decrease in the central vein diameter. The proportion of non-nuclear hepatocytes was markedly increased in both groups. Also, the liver tissue showed inflammation signs with varying intensity of pathological processes resulting in the impairment of the liver compensatory capabilities. Conclusion. The study showed a negative effect of FNPs (both synthetic and biogenic) on the liver manifested in the form of necrobiotic changes in the liver parenchyma.