title: Translocation and neurotoxicity of CdTe quantum dots in RMEs motor neurons in nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: We employed Caenorhabditis elegans assay system to investigate in vivo neurotoxicity of CdTe quantum dots (QDs) on RMEs motor neurons, which are involved in controlling foraging behavior, and the underlying mechanism of such neurotoxicity. After prolonged exposure to 0.1-1 μg/L of CdTe QDs, abnormal foraging behavior and deficits in development of RMEs motor neurons were observed. The observed neurotoxicity from CdTe QDs on RMEs motor neurons might be not due to released Cd(2+). Overexpression of genes encoding Mn-SODs or unc-30 gene controlling cell identity of RMEs neurons prevented neurotoxic effects of CdTe QDs on RMEs motor neurons, suggesting the crucial roles of oxidative stress and cell identity in regulating CdTe QDs neurotoxicity. In nematodes, CdTe QDs could be translocated through intestinal barrier and be deposited in RMEs motor neurons. In contrast, CdTe@ZnS QDs could not be translocated into RMEs motor neurons and therefore, could only moderately accumulated in intestinal cells, suggesting that ZnS coating might reduce neurotoxicity of CdTe QDs on RMEs motor neurons. Therefore, the combinational effects of oxidative stress, cell identity, and bioavailability may contribute greatly to the mechanism of CdTe QDs neurotoxicity on RMEs motor neurons. Our results provide insights into understanding the potential risks of CdTe QDs on the development and function of nervous systems in animals.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering in Ministry of Education, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors.forename: Yunli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering in Ministry of Education, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors.forename: Xiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering in Ministry of Education, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors.forename: Qiuli
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering in Ministry of Education, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors.forename: Yiping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering in Ministry of Education, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China. Electronic address: dayongw@seu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Dayong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D019187:Cadmium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000633:toxicity*; D013691:Tellurium / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D013691:Tellurium
keywords: Caenorhabditis elegans; Neurotoxicology; Quantum dots; RMEs motor neuron; Translocation