Spleen immunotoxicities induced by intra-testicular injection of magnetic nanoparticles and the role of Echinacea purpurea extract: a histological and immunohistochemical study

Abstract

ABSTRACTRecently, magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) have been used in several medical applications. High accumulations of MNP can be found in spleen and liver after different injection routes. Immunotoxicities produced by MNP in spleen, a lymphoid organ, need more investigations. This study investigated biodistribution, histological and immune responses to MNP in spleen after intra-testicular injection. Echinacea purpurea (EP) extract has immune stimulation and anti-oxidant properties. Investigation was done on the role of EP reduction of immunotoxicities produced by MNP in the spleen. After intra-testicular injection, MNP reached spleen parenchyma through blood circulation. Long term EP administration induced mild iron accumulation resulting from red blood cell (RBC) lysis. The opposite was observed when MNP treatment during EP administration significantly reduced lysed RBC iron in the spleen as well as MNP iron. It is possible the chelating properties of EP molecules possibly explained the presence of inert iron complexes from RBC in the spleen after EP administration only. The presence of MNP induced severe splenic cell degeneration and hemorrhage. The treatment with MNP combined with EP administration reduced these abnormalities. Additionally, anti-oxidant properties of EP and presence of MNP iron in the spleen had a role in activating macrophages to recycle all splenic iron. However, F4/80+, immunoglobulin A (IgA)+ and Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEAI)+ expressions significantly decreased when MNP were injected without EP. Otherwise, long term EP treatment maintained normal function of these cells.