Histhopathological Investigation of the Intraperitoneal Injection of Starch-Graft-Polyaniline/Magnesium Oxide (Chitosan/MgO) Nanocomposites on Liver and Kidney of Rats

At the present study, we assessed the effects of intraperitoneal injections of nanocomposite of Starch-Graft-Polyaniline/Magnesium Oxide (Chitosan/MgO) on liver and kidney of male rats. 28 male rats were randomly allocated into four equal groups. The control group received 0.5 ml normal saline daily via intraperitoneal injection, and the treatment groups received daily intraperitoneal injections of Chitosan/MgO nanocomposites (1, 2, and 4 mg/ml) for four weeks. At the end of the experiment, the serum samples were taken to determine serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) as serum liver markers, and serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatine as serum kidney biomarkers. After euthanasia, liver and kidney samples were taken to assess histological changes. The group receiving 4 mg/ml of Chitosan/MgO nanocomposite had a significantly higher liver enzyme levels compared to the control group (P < 0.05); however, serum BUN and creatine levels did not change compared with the control group (P > 0.05). In kidney histological analysis, mild proximal swelling was observed in treatment groups. Liver sections of the group receiving 4 mg/ml showed mild fatty changes. It seems that Chitosan/MgO nanocomposite had hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects; so, their applications in food industry and medicine should be limited.