Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Science - Department of Zoology

Production and usage of multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have widely increased over the last years and nanoparticles with their sizes below 100 nm are able to penetrate and be stored in organs such as liver, lung, testes, brain, and caused toxic effects. In this study male albino rats were intravenous injected with a single dose of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) (30 mg/ kg bw) or (60 mg/kg bw) to investigate their toxicity on liver and lung tissues. Histopathological, histochemical, apoptotic, necrotic and ultrastructure studies using transmission electron microscope (TEM) were done. After 7 and 28 days of injection, it was found that MWCNTs have different histopathological effects on liver and lung tissues of rats. In liver tissues, focal hepatic necrosis with inflammatory cells infiltration, hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes, as well as necrotic and apoptotic cells were observed. Perivascular edema, atelectasis, hyperplasia of epithelial lining bronchiole, bronchitis and pulmonary granuloma were also noted in lung tissue. Frequent apoptotic cells were also observed. Histochemical study showed some increase in collagen fibers in the portal area of liver, around bronchioles and blood vessels of lung tissue. Luteolin was then orally administrated to experimental animals with a dose of (50 mg/kg bw) to investigate its possible protection against MWCNTs effects. It was found that luteolin has a protective role and decreased the histopathological and apoptotic effects induced by MWCNTs. From the ultrastucture examination, it was also found that luteolin decreased the toxic effect of MWCNTs on liver and lung cells

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