Toxicological Characteristics of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticle in Rats

In an effort to examine liver, heart and kidney injury, immune response, and other physiological effect in rats caused by intratracheal instillation of nano titanium dioxide (TiO2) for 28 days, we assessed T lymphocytes counts, hematological indices, biochemical parameters, cytokines assay and histopathological changes in nano TiO2 treated rats. Indeed, rats treated with nano TiO2 displayed a reduction in body weight and coefficients of the hearts. Edema and loose cytoplasm on liver cells were found in nano groups. The results showed that a statistically significant increased in the BUN, HTC and AST levels than those in control group. Our data suggested that the immunologically competent cells of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ caused by nano TiO2 32 mg/kg group were significantly lower than control group. The ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ from the nano 32 mg/kg group was significantly increased and showed a disturbance of cellular immune function. But ELISA analysis showed that no significant changes in IFN-γ and IL-4 were observed throughout the experimental period in this study.