The influence of the titanium dioxide nanoparticles on structural features of the rats hippocampus

Due to the wide production and use of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (NP TiO2), which have toxic effects, the risk of their adverse effect on the functions of human bodys various systems and, primarily, nervous, increases because of its extremely high sensitivity to any damaging agents. Objective: to study the structural characteristics, ultramicroscopic features of the rat hippocampus CA1 and CA3 regions, and the level of the astrocyte marker - acid glial fibrillar proteins (GFAP) expression under intranasal administration of NP TiO2. Histological, immunohistochemical and electron-microscopic methods were used. It was established that against the background of intranasal administration of NP TiO2 in the CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus, degenerative changes in neurons and astrogliosis develop. Electron-microscopic examination revealed signs of damage to the energy and protein-synthesizing apparatus of neurons. The results of the study made it possible to conclude that NP TiO2 have a neurotoxic effect on the structural characteristics of the rat hippocampus in intranasal administration.