Figure 7

The level of total protein and LDH in the supernatant of the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid. At 24 hours after exposure, both the animals exposed to 15 nm silver particles and 410 nm silver particles showed a significant increase in the level of total protein compared to control (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). The total protein levels returned to normal at 7 days after exposure. The level of LDH was also significantly increased in the animals exposed to 15 nm silver nanoparticles at 24 hours after exposure compared to the control (p < 0.05) and to the animals exposed to 410 nm silver particles (p < 0.05).