ALTERATIONS IN RENAL MARKERS OF TILAPIA FISH EXPOSED TO SILICON DIOXIDE NANOPARTICLE

The present study investigated the impact of sublethal concentrations (60, 100 and 140ppm) of SiO2 nanoparticle on freshwater fish Oreochromis mossambicus, an environmentally relevant and commonly available fish. Acute studies on the plasma renal markers revealed a dose dependent elevation of urea and creatinine level in the treated fishes compared to that of control group, which indicated a possible damage to the renal tissues of the fishes. Further histopathological studies revealed alterations in bowman’s capsule, glomerulus, sinusoidal space, vacuolated proximal and distal tubules, haemorrhage, membrane damages in blood cells, deposition of melanomacrophages and degeneration of renal tubules, which helped us to ascertain the toxicological effects of SiO2 nanoparticle.