Investigating the effect of magnetic field and magnetite nanoparticles on the toxicity caused by colchicine in Paramecium caudatum

Introduction and purpose: Paramecium caudatum is a suitable animal model. We studied effect of magnetite nanoparticles under static magnetic field (SMF) on the toxicity of colchicine in P. caudatum. Materials & Methods: The animal was collected from nature's water resources, and cultivated in the laboratory weekly with straw to purify. The pure culture was divided into two groups, one in the laboratory and the other group under SMF (72 hours). Each group was divided into control (1 µL of distilled water), colchicine alone (doses of 1, 3 and 9 μg/μL), nano Fe3O4 alone (doses of 1, 3 and 9 μg/μL) and nanomaterials + colchicine. A sample at a volume of 0.1 mL was placed on the slide and studied 25 times under x4 in a 30-second period (with 5-second intervals). Animal's s-swimming movement was counted for 25 times, within the 30-second. Also, the neuromotor system, the macronucleus, and the avoidance reaction were studied and data were computed using ANOVA under 0.05 error. Results: The field singly had a little reduced effect on the motility of Paramecium. Colchicine decreased locomotion in both groups. In addition, it showed destruction of macronucleus and pellicle and most importantly destructed the neuromotor system, but no significant difference was observed in tubulin density. In the case of Fe3O4 NPs + colchicine, a little protective effect caused by nanomaterials was observed. Conclusion: The effect of colchicine as a neurotoxin is focused on the motor system, and Fe3O4 NPs has little protective effect regardless of laboratory and SMF.