Background: Recently Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TNPs) are widely used in medicinal and daily life purposes. Currently, high concerns have been directed to reveal TNPs toxicity in humans. A dietary carotenoid called lycopene is suggested to have a protective rule.
Aim of the study: is to evaluate the reversibility of TNPs toxicity on the renal cortices compared to the protective role of lycopene.
Material and methods: Forty-eight adult male albino rats were randomly divided into 4 groups;(I, control group) that was subdivided to -Ia, -Ib, -Ic. For 14 days, these received only balanced diet, injected daily with 1 ml intra-peritoneal (IP) distilled water, and 1ml corn oil by gavage respectively. (group II): received IP injection of TNPs (300 mg/kg) for 14 days. (group III): received 10mg/kg daily lycopene by gavage -only- for 7 days, then for the following 14 days IP daily injection of TNPs (300 mg/kg) was added. (group IV): received IP injection of TNPs (300 mg/kg) daily for 14 days followed by another 14 days of balanced diet solely. By the end of the experiment renal cortices specimens were processed for light microscopic, immunohistochemical and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) study.
Results: Marked degenerative changes in the renal cortex were observed in group II while in group III, it appeared nearly similar to the control. In group IV, many tubular cells still show darkly stained nuclei and vacuolated cytoplasm, in addition to some atrophic glomeruli.
Conclusion: the degenerative changes induced by TNPs in rat's renal cortex were ameliorated by Lycopene.