title: Cerium dioxide nanoparticles did not alter the functional and morphologic characteristics of ram sperm during short-term exposure.
abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate the interaction and the short-term effects of increasing doses of cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) on ram spermatozoa, stored at 4 °C for up to 24 hours, on the main functional and kinematic parameters. Spermatozoa were incubated with 0, 22, 44, and 220 μg/mL of CeO2 NPs at 4 °C and submitted at 0, 2, and 24 hours to the following analyses: (1) intracellular uptake of CeO2 NPs by the spermatozoa; (2) kinematic parameters; (3) acrosome and membrane integrity; (4) integrity of DNA; (5) mitochondrial activity; (6) ROS production. The results indicated that the exposure of spermatozoa to increasing doses of nanoceria was well tolerated. No intracellular uptake of NPs by the cells was observed and both kinematic parameters and status of the membranes were not affected by the incubation with NPs (P > 0.05). Moreover, no influence on the redox status of spermatozoa and on the levels of fragmentation of DNA was reported among groups at any time (P > 0.05). The data collected provide new information about the impact of CeO2 NPs on the male gamete in large animal model and could open future perspectives about their biomedical use in the assisted reproductive techniques.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Sezione di Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologia, Università di Sassari, Sassari, Italy. Electronic address: lfalchi@uniss.it.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Falchi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Sezione di Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologia, Università di Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bogliolo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Grazia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galleri
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Sezione di Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologia, Università di Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ariu
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Sezione di Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologia, Università di Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Zedda
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Scienza dei Materiali e Nanotecnologie, D.A.D.U., Università di Sassari, CR-INSTM, Alghero, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinna
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Scienza dei Materiali e Nanotecnologie, D.A.D.U., Università di Sassari, CR-INSTM, Alghero, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Malfatti
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Scienza dei Materiali e Nanotecnologie, D.A.D.U., Università di Sassari, CR-INSTM, Alghero, Italy.
authors.forename: Plinio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Innocenzi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Sezione di Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologia, Università di Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ledda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002563:Cerium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012662:Semen Preservation; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002563:Cerium; C030583:ceric oxide
keywords: Biocompatibility; Kinematic parameter; Nanoceria; Semen