Nanoceria Provokes Apoptosis in Different Critical Organs of Mus musculus

Nanoceria or cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂NPs) is extensively utilized in numerous sectors, such as electronics, environmental protection, pharmaceutical delivery systems, medical equipment, biotechnology, and the production of food and cosmetic products. This experiment planned to assess the possible toxic impacts and health hazards of nanoceria on major organs including the spleen, liver, kidneys, and lungs of Mus musculus through biochemical evaluations, gene expression analysis and histopathological examination. Fifteen male mice were randomly allocated into three equal groups: group C functioned as the untreated control and was kept under routine laboratory husbandry conditions with ad libitum access to feed and water, without undergoing any treatment, administration, or additional handling procedures, group NC-i.p received nanoceria at a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight via i.p injection twice weekly for 21 days, and group NC-i.n received nanoceria administered i.n (dropwise into the nostrils using a micropipette) at the same dose and schedule. After 21 days, blood samples were collected for biochemical assessments, in addition to tissue samples from liver, kidney, lung, heart, and spleen for oxidative stress biomarkers, gene expression and histopathological examination. Our results revealed that nanoceria caused significant hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and increased creatinine levels. Moreover, malondialdehyde (MDA) level was elevated, whereas glutathione (GSH) and glutathione perpxidase (GSPx) levels were reduced, along with a pronounced upregulation of ERK1, JNK, and MAPKP38 gene expression in liver, kidney, lung, and spleen tissues. These findings highlight the potential toxicological hazards associated with nanoceria exposure.