Histopathology and Analyses of Inflammation Intensity in the Gills of Mussels Exposed to Silver Nanoparticles: Role of Nanoparticle Size, Exposure Time and Uptake Pathways

AbstractEnvironmentally induced perturbation of health parameters lead to morphological changes associated to the inflammatory response. Hematoxyline and eosin (H&E) stained gill filaments sections were examined for such changes and inflammation intensity scored according to a quantitative model in order to evaluate the health status of in vivo exposed (for 3, 6 and 12h) mussels to silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs < 50nm and Ag-NPs < 100nm) prior and after the inhibition of two potential uptake pathways (clathrin- and caveolae-mediated endocytosis) with the aid of pharmaceutical inhibitors (Amantadine and nystatin). The impacts of the nanoparticles size, as well as their uptake routes within different time of exposure on the inflammatory response were assessed. The results showed that silver nanoparticles clearly induced morphological changes associated to the inflammatory response in gill tissues (Mann-Whitney p values were <0.05). It’s also clear that the length of the exposure as well as the nanoparticle s...