The protective effects of cerium oxide nanoparticles against hepatic oxidative damage induced by monocrotaline

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to determine the ability of cerium oxide (CeO(2)) nanoparticles to protect against monocrotaline (MCT)-induced hepatotoxicity in a rat model. METHOD: Twenty male Sprague Dawley rats were arbitrarily assigned to four groups: control (received saline), CeO(2) (given 0.0001 nmol/kg intraperitoneally [IP]), MCT (given 10 mg/kg body weight IP as a single dose), and MCT + CeO(2) (received CeO(2) both before and after MCT). Electron microscopic imaging of the rat livers was carried out, and hepatic total glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) enzymatic activities were quantified. RESULTS: Results showed a significant MCT-induced decrease in total hepatic GSH, GPX, GR, and GST normalized to control values with concurrent CeO(2) administration. In addition, MCT produced significant increases in hepatic CAT and SOD activities, which also ameliorated with CeO(2). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that CeO(2) acts as a putative novel and effective hepatoprotective agent against MCT-induced hepatotoxicity.