Effect of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles in the epithelium of the frog palate

• Grant number: 12/07753-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2013
• End date: June 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Mariangela Macchione
• Grantee: Daniela Perroni Frias
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The ability of nanoparticles to generate reactive oxygen species has been identified as a major cause of damage to the respiratory tract. The ability of nanoparticles to generate reactive oxygen species has been identified as a major cause of damage to the respiratory tract. However, in the human respiratory tract are mechanical defenses and antioxidants that fight the damage caused by these invading particles. Any damage to the mucociliary apparatus caused by these reactive oxygen species may decrease the efficiency of this important lung defense and, in the case of nanoparticles, for its small size can easily be absorbed through the respiratory tract and spread throughout the body. Therefore, this project is intended to check the damage caused by nanoparticles in the mucociliary system, using as a biological model of the palate frog (Rana catesbiana), for it possesses an epithelium similar to the airway epithelium of mammals. Then, we will utilize measures of mucociliary transport velocity, ciliary beat frequency and immunohistochemistry to check an important protein of the cell antioxidant defense (Nrf2).(AU)