TY - JOUR AU - M'rad, Imen AU - Jeljeli, Mustapha AU - Rihane, Naima AU - Hilber, Pascal AU - Sakly, Mohsen AU - Amara, Salem PY - 2018/02/14 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Aluminium oxide nanoparticles compromise spatial learning and memory performance in rats JF - EXCLI Journal JA - EXCLI J. VL - 17 IS - 0 SE - Original articles DO - 10.17179/excli2017-1050 UR - https://www.excli.de/index.php/excli/article/view/451 SP - 200-210 AB - <p>Recently, the biosafety and potential influences of nanoparticles on central nervous system have received more attention. In the present study, we assessed the effect of aluminium oxide nanoparticles (Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-NPs) on spatial cognition. Male Wistar rats were intravenously administered Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-NP suspension (20 mg/kg body weight/day) for four consecutive days, after which they were assessed. The results indicated that Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-NPs impaired spatial learning and memory ability. An increment in malondialdehyde levels with a concomitant decrease in superoxide dismutase activity confirmed the induction of oxidative stress in the hippocampus. Additionally, our findings showed that exposure to Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-NPs resulted in decreased acetylcholinesterase activity in the hippocampus. Furthermore, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-NPs enhanced aluminium (Al) accumulation and disrupted mineral element homoeostasis in the hippocampus. However, they did not change the morphology of the hippocampus. Our results show a connection among oxidative stress, disruption of mineral element homoeostasis, and Al accumulation in the hippocampus, which leads to spatial memory deficit in rats treated with Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-NPs.</p> ER -