Protective effect of quercetin on gill, brain, and spinal cord tissues of zebrafish (Danio rerio) against silver nanoparticles

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Abstract

The present study was objected to determine protective effect of quercetin (Qu) on toxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in gill, brain, and spinal cord tissues of zebrafish (Danio rerio). The fish (n= 120; average weight= 200±15 mg) were assigned into 4 treatments (in three replicate) and fed with experimental diets containing following additive for 40 days: negative and positive controls (without additive), low dose of Qu (L.Qu, 200 mg kg-1 diet), and high dose of Qu (H.Qu, 400 mg kg-1 diet). After feeding trial, the fish were exposed at LC25 of silver nanoparticles (0.15 mg L-1). The results of this study showed that AgNPs induced histopathological changes of edema, aneurism, epithelial lifting, vacuolization, hypertrophy, fusion of lamellae, necrosis, hyperplasia, mucous secretion, clubbed tips, and curvature in gill tissue, and blood congestion in brain and spinal cord tissues. The highest severity of these histopathological changes observed in the positive control when compared to negative control (p<0.005). L.Qu treatment reduced the severity of these changes about 25-35% when compared to positive control (p<0.005). The fish fed H.Qu illustrated the lowest severity of histopathological changes (p<0.005). Furthermore, L.Qu and H.Qu treatments decreased the severity of blood congestion in brain tissue (p<0.005). Quercetin, taken together, could be employ as a preventive and therapeutic strategies to ameliorate toxicity of AgNPs.  

Keywords