Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Science - Department of Biochemistry

Background and Objective: Nano-rich diesel exhaust particles (NRDEPs) are an extensive range of toxic metals existing generally on the ecological system and associated with developmental toxicity and induce apoptosis through oxidative stress. So, the present study aims to evaluate the potential effects of NRDEPs as apoptosis inducer agent via oxidative stress on the fetal brain and liver tissues in hand and the quercetin as powerful anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic agent on the other hand. Methodology: Forty pregnant (from the 5th to the 20th day of gestation) albino rats were randomly divided into control group which received normal saline and quercetin group was received 100 mg/kg quercetin. The 3rd one was received 20 mg/kg of NRDEPs and the 4th was received 100 mg/ kg quercetin two hours prior to NRDEPs exposure. The dams were anaesthetized by the end of gestation. Fetuses were removed from the uterus and evaluated for mortality rate, growth parameters, morphological and skeletal malformations as well as fetal brain and liver were removed for histological examination, immunohistochemical investigations, biochemical parameters estimation, comet assay and real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)

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