Eugenol mitigated acute lung but not spermatic toxicity of C60 fullerene emulsion in mice.

C 60 fullerene (C 60) is a nano-pollutant that can damage the respiratory system. Eugenol exhibits significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We aimed to investigate the time course of C 60 emulsion-induced pulmonary and spermatic harms, as well as the effect of eugenol on C 60 emulsion toxicity. The first group of mice (protocol 1) received intratracheally C 60 emulsion (1.0 mg/kg BW) or vehicle and were tested at 12, 24, 72 and 96 h (F groups) thereafter. The second group of mice (protocol 2) received intratracheally C 60 emulsion or vehicle, 1 h later were gavaged with eugenol (150 mg/kg) or vehicle, and experiments were done 24 h after instillation. Lung mechanics, morphology, redox markers, cytokines and epididymal spermatozoa were analyzed. Protocol 1: Tissue damping (G) and elastance (H) were significantly higher in F24 than in others groups, except for H in F72. Morphological and inflammatory parameters were worst at 24 h and subsequently declined until 96 h, whereas redox and spermatic parameters worsened over the whole period. Eugenol eliminated the increase in G , H , cellularity, and cytokines, attenuated oxidative stress induced by C60 exposure, but had no effect on sperm. Hence, exposure to C 60 emulsion deteriorated lung morphofunctional, redox and inflammatory characteristics and increased the risk of infertility. Furthermore, eugenol avoided those changes, but did not prevent sperm damage. Image 1 • C60 emulsion impaired lung morphofunctional and inflammatory status (peak at 24 h). • A single dose of C60 emulsion generated sperm toxicity. • Eugenol avoided lung morphofunctional, redox and inflammatory impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]