Electrophysiological Alterations And General Toxic Signs Obtained By Subacute Administration Of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles To The Airways Of Rats

Introduction and aims - Particles of titanium dioxide (TiO2) with typical size below 100 nm have gained a broad range of application by now, partly involving direct human exposure. Their known properties high specific surface, mobility within the organism, induction of oxidative stress, release of inflammation mediators etc. raise the possibility of nervous system damage but the available data regarding this are scarce and contradictory. Based on that, and the experiences with other metal oxide nanoparticles, the aim of the present study was to investigate certain general end nervous system toxic effects of TiO2 nanoparticles applied in the airways of rats.Materials and methods - Young adult Wistar rats (5 groups of 10 rats each) received, daily for 28 days, intratracheal instillations of titanium dioxide nanoparticles of ca. 10 nm diameter, suspended in 1% hydroxyethyl cellulose dissolved in phosphate-buffered saline, in the doses of 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg b. w. Vehicle controls received the suspension medium and there was also an untreated control group. During treatment, the rats' body weight was measured, and their clinical state observed, daily. After the 28 days, spontaneous cortical activity, sensory evoked potentials and tail nerve action potential was recorded in urethane anesthesia, then the rats were dissected and tissue samples were taken for Ti level determination and biochemical measurements of some oxidative stress indicators.Results - The two higher doses reduced the rate of body weight gain significantly. Sensory evoked potentials and tail nerve action potential were significantly slowed, but the change in the spectrum of spontaneous cortical activity was not significant. Correlation of moderate strength was found between certain evoked potential parameters and brain Ti level and oxidative stress data.Conclusion - Our results underlined the possible neurotoxicity of TiO2 NPs but also the need for further investigations.