A Comparative Histopathological Investigation of the Effects of ZnO/ Chitosan Nanocomposites and ZnO Nanoparticles on Thioacetamide-induced Nephrophaty in Rats

 Background and purpose: This study compared the effects of intraperitoneal injections of ZnO/chitosan nanocomposite and ZnO nanoparticles on histopathology of kidney in thioacetamide-intoxicated rats. Materials and methods: Twenty-eight male rats were randomly allocated into a healthy control group (negative control), positive control group (thioacetamide-intoxicated rats), thioacetamide-intoxicated + ZnO nanoparticles, and thioacetamide- iontoxicated + ZnO/chitosan nanocomposite. Nephropathy was induced by intraperitoneal injection of thioacetamide (50 mg/kg IP) three times (24h interval). The treatment groups were treated with ZnO nanocomposites (5mg/kg) and ZnO nanoparticles (5mg/kg) intraperitoneally for four weeks. Then, serum BUN and creatinine levels were measured. Afterwards, the rats were euthanized and kidney samples were separated for histological examinations. Results: There were significant increases in serum BUN and creatinine levels in thioacetamide-intoxicated rats compared to those in the control group (P<0.05). Compared to the control group, ZnO nanoparticles –treated group was found with significantly higher serum BUN and creatinine levels (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the rats treated with ZnO/chitosan nanocomposites and the positive control group in BUN and creatinine levels (P>0.05). In histological analysis, tubular necrosis and glomerular fibrosis were observed in treatment groups. Conclusion: This study showed that ZnO nanoparticles can increase nephrotoxicity induced by thioacetamide, but, ZnO/chitosan nanocomposite had no effect on thioacetamide induced nephrotoxicity.