Influence of heavy nanocrystals on spermatozoa and fertility of mammals.
In recent years, quantum dots (QDs) have been widely used in upcoming nanotechnology-based solar cells, light-emitting diodes and even bioimaging, due to their tunable optical properties and excellent quantum yields. But, such nanostructures are currently constituted by heavy elements which can threat the human health and living environment. Hence, in this work, the in vivo effects of CdTe nanocrystals (NCs) (as one of the promising QDs) on spermatozoa of male mice and subsequently on fertility of female mice were investigated, for the first time. To do this, CdTe NCs were synthesized through an environment-friendly (aqueous-based solution) method. The sperm cells presented a high potential for uptake of the heavy QDs. Meantime, the NCs exhibited concentration-dependent adverse effects on morphology, viability, kinetic characteristics and DNA of the spermatozoa. At low concentration of 0.1μg/mL, the NCs showed a moderate toxicity (~25% reduction in viability and motility of the spermatozoa), while remarkable toxicities were observed at higher concentrations of 1.0-100μg/mL (~67% reduction in viability and motility for 100μg/mL). Furthermore, significant in vitro DNA fragmentation of the spermatozoa was observed at CdTe concentrations ≥10μg/mL. In vivo toxicity of the NCs was found lower than the in vitro toxicity. Nevertheless, the in vivo destructive effects of the NCs still caused ~34% reduction in viability as well as motility and ~5% damages in DNA of male mice spermatozoa. These resulted in ~26% decrease in fertility and gestation of female mice, along with an overall hormone secretion during the pregnancy, and ~39% reduction in viability of pups/pregnant females.
Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11155-9161, Tehran, Iran; Institute for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 14588-89694, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: oakhavan@sharif.edu.
Omid
O
Akhavan
National Research Center for Transgenic Mouse, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, P.O. Box 14965-161, Tehran, Iran.
Ehsan
E
Hashemi
Physics Department, Yazd University, Yazd, P.O. Box 89195-741, Iran.
Hakimeh
H
Zare
National Research Center for Transgenic Mouse, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, P.O. Box 14965-161, Tehran, Iran.
Mehdi
M
Shamsara
Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11155-9161, Tehran, Iran; Institute for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 14588-89694, Tehran, Iran.
Nima
N
Taghavinia
National Research Center for Transgenic Mouse, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, P.O. Box 14965-161, Tehran, Iran.
Farid
F
Heidari
D000818:Animals; D019187:Cadmium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000032:analysis; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010316:Particle Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000032:analysis; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013691:Tellurium / Q000737:chemistry
D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D004247:DNA; D013691:Tellurium; C028337:cadmium telluride
CdTe; Fertility; Mice; Quantum dots; Sperm; Toxicity