title: Evaluation of toxic effects of CdTe quantum dots on the reproductive system in adult male mice.
abstract: Fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) are highly promising nanomaterials for various biological and biomedical applications because of their unique optical properties, such as robust photostability, strong photoluminescence, and size-tunable fluorescence. Several studies have reported the in vivo toxicity of QDs, but their effects on the male reproduction system have not been examined. In this study, we investigated the reproductive toxicity of cadmium telluride (CdTe) QDs at a high dose of 2.0 nmol per mouse and a low dose of 0.2 nmol per mouse. Body weight measurements demonstrated there was no overt toxicity for both dose at day 90 after exposure, but the high dose CdTe affected body weight up to 15 days after exposure. CdTe QDs accumulated in the testes and damaged the tissue structure for both doses on day 90. Meanwhile, either of two CdTe QDs treatments did not significantly affect the quantity of sperm, but the high dose CdTe significantly decreased the quality of sperm on day 60. The serum levels of three major sex hormones were also perturbed by CdTe QDs treatment. However, the pregnancy rate and delivery success of female mice that mated with the treated male mice did not differ from those mated with untreated male mice. These results suggest that CdTe QDs can cause testes toxicity in a dose-dependent manner. The low dose of CdTe QDs is relatively safe for the reproductive system of male mice. Our preliminary result enables better understanding of the reproductive toxicity induced by cadmium-containing QDs and provides insight into the safe use of these nanoparticles in biological and environmental systems.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China; School of Geography and Biological Information, Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China.
authors.forename: Xiaohui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China.
authors.forename: Xiangrong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China.
authors.forename: Lihui
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yuwen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China.
authors.forename: Wenjing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Geography and Biological Information, Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China.
authors.forename: Lixing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Medical College, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China.
authors.forename: Zhaogang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China. Electronic address: iamlhwang@njupt.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Lianhui
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000177:Acrosome / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D019187:Cadmium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D005835:Genitalia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000633:toxicity*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism; D013691:Tellurium / Q000633:toxicity*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D006728:Hormones; D013691:Tellurium; C028337:cadmium telluride
keywords: Cadmium; Fertility; Quantum dot; Spermatogenesis; Testis; Toxicity