Exposure to Polystyrene nanoparticles induces liver damage in rat via induction of oxidative stress and hepatocyte apoptosis

Plastic products are widely used in different applications. Thus, exposure of human and other organisms to these products may affect their biological system. The current study was conducted to investigate the potential deleterious effect of Polysterene nanoparticles (PS-NPs) on the liver and to state the cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with exposure to PS-NPs.30 male rats were divided randomly and equally into 3 groups; control (distilled water), low dose (3 mg/kg/day) and high dose (10 mg/kg/day) exposed group via oral gavage for 5 successive weeks. PS-NPs caused elevation in ALT, AST and MDA, upregulation of apoptosis-related genes and significant decrease in GSH and mRNA expression for antioxidant-related genes (Nrf-2 and GPx). Moreover, alterations in hepatic tissue architecture and positive caspase-3 expression was noticed in a dose- dependent manner. Collectively, PS-NPs can induce hepatoxicity in rats in a dose dependent manner, so the health risk of PS-NPs should not be ignored.