Assessment of Hepatotoxicity Induced by Aluminum Oxide Nanoparticles in Oreochromis niloticus Using Integrated Biomarkers: Exposure and Recovery.

The hepatotoxic impacts of 2, 4, and 8 mg/L of Al2O3 nanoparticles (31.4 ± 4.8 nm) were evaluated in Oreochromis niloticus after 7 days of exposure and 15 days of recovery periods. The biochemical analysis of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase in plasma showed significant increases in both 4 and 8 mg/L Al2O3 NPs exposed groups. The antioxidant biomarkers showed concentration-dependent elevations in catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase activities, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances levels. Glutathione reduced contents showed significant reductions in both 4 and 8 mg/L Al2O3 nanoparticles exposed groups. Several hepatic histopathological alterations were recorded ranging from adaptive responses (e.g. melanomacrophages aggregation) to permanent damage (e.g. necrosis). The recovery period using toxicant-free water led to an obvious reduction in the Al content in liver, liver and antioxidant enzymes in addition to regressive histopathological alterations based on the frequency of alterations occurrence and the extent of affected areas.