The mitigating ability of propolis on oxidative stress and pathological changes induced by copper oxide nanoparticles in rat spleen: A histopathological and biochemical study.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Basic Medical Sciences-Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, the University of Jordan and Ibn Sina University for Medical Sciences, Amman 16197, Jordan.

2 Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Ibn Sina University for Medical Sciences, Amman 16197, Jordan.

3 Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Ibn Sina University for Medical Sciences, Amman 16197,Jordan Histology and Cell Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine,Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt

4 Histology and Cytology Department Faculty of Medicine, Helwan Unversity, Egypt

5 histology department faculty of medicine Tanta university

Abstract

The widespread application of copper oxide nanoparticles (CON) is associated with a negative impact on human health. They have immunotoxic effects. Therefore, the spleen may be a target organ for nanoparticles toxicity, but little is known about the underlying mechanics of this toxicity.

This experiment aimed to assess the ability of propolis to protect against CON-induced pathological alterations in rat spleen, exploring the underlying molecular mechanisms. Fifty rats were split into three groups: control group, CON group [25mg/kg/day, intraperitoneal injection for 7 days], and CON & propolis group [simultaneous administration of CON and propolis for 7 days]. The propolis dose was 50 mg/kg/day orally for 7 days. Spleen specimens were processed for histopathological examination, immunohistochemical, and biochemical studies. The inflammasome pathway, oxidative stress, and the proinflammatory markers were assessed. The study revealed that the CON group showed pathological alterations in the spleen tissues. Many splenocytes showed cytoplasmic vacuoles and pyknotic nuclei. Increased nuclear factor-kappa B [NF-κB], nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 [NLRP3], and caspase-1 immuno-expression was detected. There was a notable enhancement in oxidative stress parameters with decreased levels of the antioxidant enzymes. Increased mRNA expression of NF-κB, NLRP3, caspase-1, interlukin-1β [IL-1β] and interlukin-18 [IL-18] were evident. In contrast, the CON & propolis group showed preserved spleen structure with non-significant changes in all mentioned parameters. Therefore, CON has a deleterious impact on rats' spleen by triggering oxidative stress/NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Propolis exerted a potent protective role against CON-induced pathological alterations in rats' spleen, most likely through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Keywords