Effect of nano-sized SiO particles on the cognitive function and biochemical response.

Several studies have convincingly demonstrated that SiONPs mediated cytotoxicity, which was dose-, time- and size-dependent. The data on toxicity of SiONPs are even more contradictory. In the present study, we investigated the effects of sub-acute exposure to SiO-NPs on spatial learning and memory, the biochemical parameters and the histology of organs. Rats were injected intravenously with a single dose of SiO-NPs (20 mg/kg) during five consecutive days. The analysis of spatial memory in the Morris water maze showed that SiO-NPs disrupt the cognitive abilities of rats. Moreover, SiO-NPs could changes the blood counts. However, biochemical markers remained unchanged. Histological examination showed that SiO-NPs induced pathological changes in rat organs. In this finding NPs were shown to cause granuloma formation and inflammatory cells infiltration in the liver.