Gut Dysbiosis and Neurobehavioral Alterations in Rats Exposed to Silver Nanoparticles.

ABSTRACT: Due to their antimicrobial properties, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are being used in non-edible and edible consumer products. It is not clear though if exposure to these chemicals can exert toxic effects on the host and gut microbiome. Conflicting studies have been reported on whether AgNPs result in gut dysbiosis and other changes within the host. We sought to examine whether exposure of Sprague-Dawley male rats for two weeks to different shapes of AgNPs, cube (AgNC) and sphere (AgNS) affects gut microbiota, select behaviors, and induces histopathological changes in the gastrointestinal system and brain. In the elevated plus maze (EPM), AgNS-exposed rats showed greater number of entries into closed arms and center compared to controls and those exposed to AgNC. AgNS and AgNC treated grou

SUBMITTER: Javurek AB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5460200 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature