Lanthanum Zirconate Nanoparticles, used in Blades of Gas Turbine Engines, Can Disturb Behavior, Leukocyte Count and Antioxidant Metabolites of Vital Organs of Albino Mice

Abstract

Lanthanum Zirconate (La2Zr2O7) nanoparticles (NPs) are generally used in blades of gas turbine engines to thermally insulate them and to protect them against hot and corrosive gas streams. The present research experiment was aimed to determine the effect of Lanthanum Zirconate NPs on selected aspects of behavior, serum biochemistry, complete blood count and antioxidant metabolites from vital organs of albino mice in a gender specific manner. Seven weeks old mice were administered orally with 25mg/ml solvent/Kg body weight of Lanthanum Zirconate nanoparticles for consecutive 22 days. Saline treated control groups were maintained in parallel. It was observed that neuromuscular coordination was significantly improved (P = 0.01) in NPs treated female mice while rearing frequency was significantly decreased (P = 0.004) in NPs treated male mice than their respective controls. Complete blood count analysis revelaed that NPs treated female mice had significantly reduced white blood cell (P = 0.04) and lymphocyte count (P = 0.02) than control group. It was observed that Superoxide dismutase concentrations in kidney (P = 0.04), Malonaldehyde concentrations in brain (P = 0.002), heart (P = 0.001), liver (P = 0.05) of male and in kidney (P = 0.001) of NPs treated female mice were significantly higher than their respective control groups. In conclusion, we are reporting that oral supplementation with 25mg/ml solvent/Kg body weight of Lanthanum Zirconate nanoparticles is affecting neuromuscular coordination, exploratory behavior, leukocyte count and antioxidant metabolites from vital organs in a gender specific manner with more pronounced effects in male.