Genotoxic effect of selenium arabinogalactan nanocomposite on nucleated blood cells

Abstract

Introduction. Selenium (Se) nanoparticles have attracted the interest of researchers for various applications due to their unusual properties. Despite their advantages, Se nanoparticles also have toxic effects, so for their successful use it is necessary to know the doses that are safe for the use. An important component in the development of pathological processes is the occurrence of DNA damage after exposure to Se nanoparticles, which can lead to severe disorders. Materials and methods. Male white rats were orally administered a solution of Se nanocomposite at a dose of 500 μg/kg for 10 days. The genotoxicity of the nanocomposite under study was assessed by the occurrence of DNA damage in blood cells using the DNA comet method in the alkaline version. The results were obtained during 2 stages: one day after exposure and after 4 months to identify the persistence or absence of a negative effect. Results. With using the DNA comet method, intragastric administration of Se nanocomposite was found to cause the damage to the DNA structure, and this effect persists not only 24 hours after exposure, but also 4 months later. Limitations. The study is limited to the study of DNA fragmentation on the next day after a 10-day exposure to Se nanocomposite in male white rats and during the long-term period after 4 months. Conclusion. The study revealed persistent DNA damage in the nucleated blood cells of male albino rats, which apparently may be associated with the main mechanism of Se toxicity: nonspecific replacement of sulfur in sulfur-containing amino acids. However, the toxic effects of the nanocomposite may also be caused by its pro-oxidant properties, which requires further confirmation.