Exposure to variable doses of nickel oxide nanoparticles disturbs serum biochemical parameters and oxidative stress biomarkers from vital organs of albino mice in a sex-specific manner.

INTRODUCTION: This study was designed to report the biological effect of nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) in albino mice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five weeks old albino mice of both sex were intraperitoneally injected either with 20 mg (low dose) or 50 mg/mL saline/kg body weight (high dose) of NiO NPs for 14 days. Saline-treated controls were maintained in parallel. Complete blood count, selected serum biochemical parameters and oxidative stress biomarkers from vital organs were determined in all subjects. RESULTS: Male mice treated with NiO NPS had increased blood urea nitrogen, elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver elevated MDA in liver, kidney and heart and reduced catalase activity in heart and kidney. Female mice treated with NiO NPs had significantly reduced serum albumin and total proteins, SOD in lungs and elevated MDA in liver. DISCUSSION: We are reporting that intraperitoneal injections of NiO NPs for 14 days drastically affect blood serum parameters and oxidative stress biomarkers from vital organs of albino mice. CONCLUSION: Toxic effects of NiO NPs were dose and sex dependent and they were more pronounced at higher dose and in male mice.