Silver Nanoparticle Exposure Causes Pulmonary Structural Damage and Mitochondrial Dynamic Imbalance in the Rat: Protective Effects of Sodium Selenite

Wanrui Ma, 1–3 Shan He, 4 Huiyan Ma, 4 Haifeng Jiang, 5 Ning Yan, 6 Lili Zhu, 6 John J Bang, 3 P Andy Li, 2 Shaobin Jia 6 1Department of General Medicine, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technological Enterprise (BRITE), North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, USA; 3Department of Environmental, Earth and Geospatial Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, USA; 4School of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People’s Republic of hina; 5Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People’s Republic of China; 6Heart Centre, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: P Andy LiDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technological Enterprise (BRITE), North Carolina Central University, 1801 Fayetteville Street, Durham, NC 27707, USATel +1 919 530 6872Fax +1 919 530 6600Email pli@nccu.eduShaobin JiaHeart Centre, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, 804 Shengli South Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan 750004, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 139 9507 8969Email jsbxn@163.comBackground: With the increased application of Silver nanoparticles (AgNP), its potential concerns to the health of human beings remain to be defined. This study aims to explore the harmful effects of AgNP on lung tissue in animals and to examine the mechanisms of protection achieved by sodium selenite.Methods: Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were exposed to AgNP (200 μL,1mg/mL) through a single intratracheal instillation. Sodium selenite (0.2mg/kg) was i.p. injected. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were measured using a spectrophotometer. Histological outcomes and ultrastructural cha