[Characterization of fullerene C60 peroral toxicity to rats in the 92-day experiment]

Toxicity of fullerene C60 in male Wistar rats under conditions of a daily intragastric administration at doses of 0.1; 1 and 10 mg/kg body weight for 92 days was studied. Integral, biochemical, physiological, hematological, immunological indicators were determined that characterized the body condition of animals together with fullerene C60 biodistribution in organs and tissues of rats. Majority of the results didn't show any influence of fullerene C60 on animals treated with it in the whole range of doses studied. On the other hand, some of the data not related to the action of the components used in carrier solution, demonstrated dose-dependent variation: found increased activity on 21-35% in the CYP2B1 at doses of 1 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg body weight, and reduced concentration of uric acid and increasing concentrations of urea at 10 mg/kg body weight. Nevertheless, these changes were within the physiological range of variability. However, it is worth noting an important significant (p = 0.02) increase of the absorption for antigenic proteins in the digestive tract in animals treated with fullerene C60 at a dose of 10 mg/kg, suggesting a marked effect on the intestinal wall.