Selenium nanoparticles mitigated hepatic damage and genotoxicity, testicular and renal damage in rats intoxicated with aflatoxins.

To explore the protective effects of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) against renal, hepatic, and reproductive toxicity induced by aflatoxin, male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 36), 3 months old and weighing 162-233 g (198.17 ± 2.64 g), were equally divided into control, SeNPs, aflatoxin, and SeNPs-aflatoxin groups. Blood and tissue samples from the liver, kidneys, and testicles were collected. Luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, estradiol (E2), interleukin-β (IL-β), transforming growth factor-β (Tgf-β), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total antioxidants (TAC), nitric oxide (NO), AST, ALT, and creatinine were measured. DNA fragmentation and the expression of activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc), Early growth response factor 1 (Egr1), and JunB Proto-Oncogene (JunB) were determined in the liver. SeNPs and SeNPs-aflatoxin increased testosterone (P < 0.001) and estradiol (P = 0.004) but lowered TGF-β (P = 0.013) compared with the aflatoxin group. Aflatoxin decreased SOD (P < 0.047) and CAT (P < 0.0001) activities and increased NO concentrations (P = 0.004). SeNPs, aflatoxin, and SeNPs-aflatoxin decreased AST (P < 0.01) and ALT (P < 0.0001) but increased creatinine (P < 0.001). Aflatoxin and SeNPs-aflatoxin increased DNA fragmentation% and hepatic Arc, Egr1, and JunB expression (P < 0.0001), whereas SeNPs decreased them. Aflatoxin caused severe degenerative alterations in the testis, liver, and kidneys, including vacuolization, necrosis, and structural disorganization. SeNPs mitigated the toxic effects of aflatoxin by improving tissue organization and minimizing cellular damage. Significant histological improvements were noted, although full restoration was not achieved. In conclusion, SeNPs could protect to some extent against the hepatic and testicular toxic effects of aflatoxin in male rats. Renal toxicity could not be ameliorated to normality due to the nephrotoxic effects of both SeNPs and aflatoxin.