title: Mechanisms of nanosized titanium dioxide-induced testicular oxidative stress and apoptosis in male mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Due to the increased application of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) in the food industry and daily life, their potential toxic effects in humans and animals have been investigated. However, very few studies have focused on testicular oxidative stress and/or apoptosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to understand the possible molecular mechanisms of testicular lesions following exposure to TiO₂ NPs, male mice were exposed to 2.5, 5, or 10 mg/kg body weight TiO₂ NPs for 90 consecutive days. Testicular oxidative stress and apoptosis were then evaluated, and the testicular mRNA expression of several genes and their proteins involved in oxidative stress and/or apoptosis was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TiO₂ NPs entered Sertoli cells and caused severe testicular oxidative damage and/or apoptosis, accompanied by excessive production of reactive oxygen species and peroxidation of lipids, proteins and DNA as well as a significant reduction in antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, exposure to TiO₂ NPs resulted in the up-regulation of caspase-3, Nrbp2, and cytochrome c expression, and caused down-regulation of SOD, CAT, GPx, GST, GR, Cyp1b1, Car3, Bcl-2, Acaa2, and Axud1 expression in mouse testis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TiO₂ NPs entered Sertoli cells via the blood-testis barrier and were deposited in mouse seminiferous cord and/or Sertoli cells, causing oxidative damage and apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China. zhaoxy@suda.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaoyang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China. shenglei510@163.com.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: Library of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China. wangling@suda.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China. hongjie@suda.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China. yuxiaohong@suda.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China. 1196084883@qq.com.
authors.forename: Xuezi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sang
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China. sunqing450268861@163.com.
authors.forename: Qingqing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China. zeyuguan@suda.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yuguan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ze
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China. hongfsh_cn@sina.com1.|Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Research, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215007, China. hongfsh_cn@sina.com1.|Cultivation base of State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Biomaterials built together by Ministry of Science and Technology and Jiangsu Province, Suzhou, 215007, China. hongfsh_cn@sina.com1.
authors.forename: Fashui
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hong