Date palm seed nanoparticles induce multiorgan histomorphological remodeling and immune-associated cellular responses in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
In brief
Tilapia fed 120 mg/kg date seed nanoparticles show multiorgan tissue changes
In a 30-day feeding trial of 144 Nile tilapia, date palm seed nanoparticles were associated with dose-related changes in the liver, spleen, kidney, intestine and muscle, including more immune-associated cells and improved-looking tissue architecture. These are histological findings, not proof of better fish health or production; longer-term safety and practical benefits remain unknown.
- Journal
- Tissue & cell (Q2)
- Published
- 23 September 2026
- Study design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1b)
- Authors
- Fatma A Madkour, Fatma Abdelhakeem, Elsayed S I Mohammed, Alhosein Hamada, Mariana S Alfons, Karima A Bakry, et al.
- PMID
- 42804959
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.tice.2026.103987
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Histology (top studies of the week, 4 October 2026): Dose-dependent histomorphological improvements across multiple organs
Abstract
Plant-derived nanoparticles have attracted increasing attention as potential sustainable feed additives in aquaculture, owing to their bioactive properties and potential to influence tissue-level responses and physiological processes. This study evaluated the effects of dietary date palm seed nanoparticles (DPS-NPs) on the histomorphometric characteristics of multiple organs in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). DPS-NPs were synthesized by acid hydrolysis and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). TEM revealed well-dispersed spherical nanoparticles ranging from 24 to 100 nm. A total of 144 Nile tilapia were randomly assigned to four dietary groups, with three replicate tanks per group and 12 fish per tank. Under controlled laboratory conditions, the subjects were fed diets containing dietary DPS-NPs at concentrations of 0, 40, 80, or 120 mg/kg diet over a 30-day feeding trial. Tissue samples from the spleen, liver, kidney, intestine, and skeletal muscle were examined via light microscopy, and quantitative morphometry was performed using ImageJ/Fiji software. Histological analysis revealed dose-dependent improvements across all organs. The liver showed enhanced hepatic cord organization, reduced cytoplasmic vacuolization, and an increased density of Kupffer-like cells, while melanomacrophages proliferated markedly in the spleen, liver, and kidney. Telocyte-like interstitial cells were consistently observed near hepatic vasculature. The intestinal mucosa exhibited goblet cell hyperplasia, improved villus architecture, and muscularis thickening at higher doses. Skeletal muscle showed better myofibrillar organization, clear sarcomere banding, and increased eosinophilic staining intensity, suggestive of higher myoglobin content. Overall, dietary DPS-NPs, particularly at 120 mg/kg diet, were associated with morphological changes consistent with immune-cell recruitment and tissue remodeling across multiple organ systems, supporting further investigation of date palm seed waste as a functional ingredient in sustainable aquaculture nutrition.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.