The Dimensional Hematological Alterations Induced in Blood of Rats in vivo by Intraperitoneal Administration of Gold Nanoparticles

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of intraperitoneal administration of (Gold Nanoparticles) GNPs on the dimensional hematological alterations in rats in an attempt to cover and understand the toxicity and the potential role of GNPs as a therapeutic and diagnostic tool. Methods: A total of 30 healthy male Wistar-Kyoto rats were used in this study. Animals were randomly divided into groups, 2 GNPs-treated rats groups and one control group (NG). 2 GNPs-treated G1 and G2; received intraperitoneal administration of 50 µl of 10 and 50 nm GNPs for a period of 3 days. Hematological parameters were measured using standard hematological techniques. Results: The decrease in White Blood Cells (WBCs), Red Blood Cells (RBCs) count, monocytes%, neutrophils% and eosinophils%, observed with 10 nm GNPs was significantly higher than 50 nm GNPs and control. The lymphocytes% with 10 nm GNPs significantly increased compared with 50 nm GNPs and control. The Hemoglobin (HB) level, Hematocrit (HCT)%, Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) and Platelets (PLTs) count increased after administration of 10 and 50 nm GNPs compared with the control. The Mean Platelet Volume (MPV), Plateletcrit (PCT) and Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) significantly decreased with 50 nm GNPs compared with 10 nm GNPs and control; while Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) significantly increased with 50 nm GNPs. The Red blood cell Distribution Width (RDW) induced non-significant increase compared with the control. Conclusions: The decrease in RBCs count might be due to the destruction of RBCs. The increase in Hematocrit (HCT)% might be due to an increase in RBCs volume. The changes in RBCs indicates changes in morphology and deformability of RBCs, which confirmed by a slightly increase in RDW%. The significant increase in PLTs count might lead to thrombosis or aggregation of blood vessels.