Pantnagar Journal of Research

Abstract

Nanostructures enter the cells of organs and remain there for unknown durations before getting excreted or leaving to other organs. Limited investigations have been carried on effect of nanoparticles on health viz body weight and behavior of animals and man. Therefore, present study was designed to study the effect of zinc nano particles on health of Wistar rats. For this study, a total of 35 rats of six-week-old age of both sexes were divided randomly into two groups of which 20 rats in Group I (control) and 15 rats in Group II (treated). In treated group, rats were given nano zinc particles into stomach by oral gavaging and dose of nano zinc was selected based on NOAEL dose of nano zinc oxide 31.25 mg/kg body weight of rat for a period of 90 days. Rats of both the experimental groups were monitored daily in the morning and evening for presence of the clinical manifestation, if any. In rats of both the groups toxicity signs like abnormal posture paralysis, bleeding, diarrhoea, convulsion, breathing difficulties, restlessness and irritation were not observed. At the time of feeding rats from group I (control) showed normal response for feeding as compared to group II (treated). There was decrease response to feed and dull behavior noticed in rats of group II (treated). There was no mortality throughout the course of the study in rats of either group. There was 16.88% and 23.86% decrease in body weight in rats of treated group as compared to rats of control group at 75 and 90 day post treatment (DPT), respectively. Organ body weight ratio of spleen was decreased by 5.55 % and 7.69% at 60 and 90 DPT. However, the reduction in relative organ weight of spleen was not statistically significant as compared to control group. While, organ body weight ratio of thymus and liver was decreased significantly by 51.21% at 90th DPT and by 15.71% at 60th DPT respectively as compare to control group