Study of Protective Effects of Gold Nano Particles on the Liver Toxicity Induced by Carbon-Tetrachloride (CCl4) in Male Rats

Since gold nanoparticle (AuNP) has shown anti-oxidant activity, this study was designed to assess the effect of AuNP on the liver toxicity induced by Carbon -Tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats.
A total of 36 Wistar-albino male rats, weighing 200 - 250 g, were randomly split into three groups (control, CCl4 and CCl4 AuNP; n = 12) after 5 days of accommodation. Groups CCl4 and CCl4 AuNP as experimental were injected with CCl4 (1 mlL/kg b.w) for a period of 42 days intraperitonealy (ip), while control (c) group received saline intraperitonealy. On the seventh week of the study, group CCl4 AuNP received additional AuNP and saline suspension for a period of three days. Finally, blood samples were collected from their cervical vessels. Liver enzymes activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and malondialdeide (MDA) were measured in serum. Prepared sections of liver specimens were stained with H and E and PAS methods for histological studies. The data was analyzed by SPSS v. 17; applying one -way ANOVA, Tukey as well as nonparametric tests.
Results showed that aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in groups CCl4 and CCl4 AuNP significantly increased compared to group control, but MDA and SOD values decreased compared to group control. Liver enzymes values did not show any differences in Group CCl4 and CCl4 AuNP but MDA and SOD values in group CCl4 AuNP decreased and increased respectively in comparison to group CCl4. Histological evaluation showed fatty metamorphosis and micro nodular cirrhotic changes in CCl4 group but gold nanoparticles did not show a remarkable protective effect.
AuNP administration affected MDA and SOD in hepatotoxicity induced by CCl4 in male rats but did not improve liver enzymes damage.