Investigation of the effects of silicon dioxide nanoparticles and environmental contaminants on immunocytotoxic and antioxidant defence systems in model organism galleria mellonella

In the study, enzyme activities of superoxide dismustase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), cytochorem P450 (Cyt P450), glutathione-s-transferase (GST), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and total, differential haemocyte counts and apoptotic index were investigated in haemolymph, midgut and fat body of Galleria mellonella exposed to LD50 value of SiO2 NP, environmental concentration of abamectin and cadmium sulphate (CdSO4) singly and in mixture. Alterations in antioxidant and detoxification enzyme activities were observed in the midgut and fat body of G. mellonella larvae when exposed to SiO2 NP, abamectin and CdSO4 singly and in mixture.The total hemocyte count decreased in the SiO2 and CdSO4 singly applied groups however an increased were observed in the SiO2 NPs + CdSO4 mixture and a decreased were observed in the SiO2 NPs+abamectin group compared with the control. As for differential hemocyte counts, prohemocytes, plasmatocytes, spherulocytes, granulocytes, and oenocytoids was altered following treatment with SiO2 NPs, CdSO4, and abamectin sinlgly and in mixture. As a result of this study, it was determined that SiO2 NPs, CdSO4 and Abamectin lead to toxic effects in G. mellonella larvae as a result of single and mixture applications and it was also observed that SiO2 NPs may increase the toxic effects of environmental pollutants on antioxidant defence and immune system depending on tissue differences as a result of mixture applications.