title: Effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles on viability of human spermatozoa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The extensive use of different nanoparticles has raised great concerns about their occupational and biological safety.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on viability of spermatozoa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semen samples were obtained from 15 healthy persons, and were analyzed using WHO guidelines. Each semen sample was separately incubated with different concentrations of ZnO NPs (10, 100, 500, and 1000 µg/mL) at 37(o)C for 45, 90, and 180 minutes. Then, the cell death percentage of spermatozoa was measured by MTT assay. Mann-Whitney test was used for comparison of different times and concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The maximum cell death percentage was 20.8%, 21.2%, and 33.2% after 45, 90, and 180 minutes, respectively. In case of concentration, the highest concentration (1000 µg/mL) of ZnO NPs led to the highest toxicity for all incubation times. Statistically, there were significant differences in cell viability after 180 minutes vs. 45 and 90 minutes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicated that cytotoxicity of ZnO NPs is dose and time dependent. This article extracted from M.Sc. thesis. (Marzieh Noorani).
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Health, School of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Abolfazl
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barkhordari
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyedhossein
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hekmatimoghaddam
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Pajoohesh Lab, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jebali
authors.affiliation: Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khalili
authors.affiliation: Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talebi
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Health, School of Paramedicine, Abarkooh, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Marzieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noorani
keywords: Cytotoxicity.; MTT assay; Semen; Spermatozoa; Viability; ZnO nanoparticles