Comparative Toxicity of Alpha and Gamma Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Rainbow Trout: Histopathology, Hematology, Accumulation, and Oxidative Stress

In this study, alpha and gamma iron oxide nanoparticles, characterizations, toxic effects after being exposed to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) at 0, 1, 10 and 25 mg/L concentrations for 10 days, and then 10-day recovery period without any nanoparticle exposure were examined for histopathological (kidney, liver and gill), hematological, iron accumulation and potential for oxidative stress (TBARS and GSH). Histopathological damages significant at the exposure of increasing concentrations of both nanoparticles (increase in melanomacrophage aggregations, epithelial tissue deformations, cytoplasmic vacuolizations, fatty changes, necrosis, pyknosis, hyperplasia, hypertrophy, lamellar fusions, capillary dilatations). Gamma nanoparticles were determined to accumulate more than the alpha nanoparticles. The most Fe accumulation was detected in the liver. The findings of oxidative stress parameters showed that both nanoparticles have the potential to generate oxidative stress. It was concluded that the exposure of alpha and gamma nanoparticles at specified concentrations and durations had a toxic effect on rainbow trout and the toxicity of these nanoparticles was similar.

Automated summary

This study investigated the toxic effects of alpha and gamma iron oxide nanoparticles on rainbow trout, including histopathological damages, iron accumulation, and oxidative stress. The findings suggest that both types of nanoparticles have the potential to cause toxicity in rainbow trout.