Distribution of silver in rats following 28 days of repeated oral exposure to silver nanoparticles or silver acetate
2011

Distribution of Silver in Rats After Oral Exposure to Silver Nanoparticles or Silver Acetate

Sample size: 28 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Katrin Loeschner, Niels Hadrup, Klaus Qvortrup, Agnete Larsen, Xueyun Gao, Ulla Vogel, Alicja Mortensen, Henrik Rye Lam, Erik H Larsen

Primary Institution: National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark

Hypothesis

How does the organ distribution of silver differ between silver nanoparticles and silver acetate after repeated oral exposure in rats?

Conclusion

The study found that the organ distribution of silver was similar for both silver nanoparticles and silver acetate, but silver concentrations were generally lower after administration of nanoparticles.

Supporting Evidence

  • Silver concentrations in tissues from animals exposed to AgNPs were approximately 40-50% of those corresponding to administration of AgAc.
  • AgNPs were synthesized with a size distribution of 14 ± 4 nm in diameter.
  • Silver was found in the liver, kidneys, lungs, and brain of the rats.

Takeaway

Scientists gave rats silver in two forms to see where it goes in their bodies. They found that both forms went to similar places, but the nanoparticles seemed to be less absorbed.

Methodology

Rats were given either silver nanoparticles or silver acetate orally for 28 days, and their organs were analyzed for silver concentration.

Limitations

The study did not determine the exact mechanism of absorption for silver nanoparticles.

Participant Demographics

Four-week-old female Wistar Hannover Galas rats.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1743-8977-8-18

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