With the progress of nanoscience and its applications, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have become one of the most interesting nanoparticles owing to their use in different fields. However, the excessive use of AgNPs and its products may cause toxicity in both the environment and in human health. The main goal of this research is to study the toxic and photochemical effects of AgNPs against Sarcophaga argyrostoma larvae through ultrastructure, morphological change, and DNA damage. Treating midgut epithelium with AgNPs led to many alterations in dark conditions, disintegrated epithelium, swollen cells, and shrunken nucleus. Organelles appeared in a loose manner and mitochondria were without cristae, endoplasmic reticulum had dark spots, and peritrophic membrane was loose in appearance. Fatty tissues were vacuolized and muscle fibers lacked normal striations and had many gaps and lysosomal bodies. In the light conditions, the epithelium appeared with detached cells and many vacuoles, organelles were ruptured with many gaps in between, and secretory vesicles were scattered. Peritrophic membrane disappeared. Muscles collapsed and vacuolized loosed fatty tissues were detected. On the other hand, control larvae epithelium appeared regularly distinct, with organelles intact and muscles had clear normal striations. Data showed that AgNPs caused ultrastructural and morphological changes of the external cuticle of the 4th instar larvae along with a significant effect on DNA damage that occurred after the larval treatment, reflecting the toxicity of AgNPs.
Keywords: Comet assay; Cytotoxicity; DNA damage; Flesh fly larva; Photochemical effect; Silver nanoparticles; Ultrastructure.
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