ALTERATIONS IN LIPID PROFILE PARAMETERS OF ALBINO RAT AFTER INTOXICATION OF MERCURY SELENIDE NANOPARTICLES

Nanoparticles are of great scientific interest, in fact, a bridge between bulk materials and atomic or molecular structures. The main characteristic of nanoparticles is their extreme smaller size, which falls in the transitional zone between molecules and the corresponding bulk materials. Lipids and fatty acids are a family of molecules classified within the lipid macronutrient class. The present study is based on the changes in lipid profile parameters due to Hg-Se NPs. Both mercury and selenium have a binding affinity for each other. Mercury is comparatively toxic than selenium; hence in combination, selenium works antagonistically to mercury. Acute and sub-acute treatments of mercury selenide nanoparticles (Hg-Se NPs) reflect changes in lipid profile in female Albino rats, which may be considered in cardiac risk assessment and its follow up program. The level of cholesterol, triglycerides (TG) and lipoprotein were found to be reduced after acute (1 day) and sub-acute (7, 14, and 21 days) treatments. The reduction in cholesterol and triglycerides revealed quick penetrating power of Hg-Se NPs whereas decrement in high-density lipoproteins has been assessed as an outcome of oxidative stress in the form of hydrogen peroxide, oxide anion, and nitrogen ions.