[Oxidative damage effects induced by CdTe quantum dots in mice liver].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate oxidative damage effects induced by CdTe quantum dots (QDs) in mice liver.

METHODS

40 ICR mice were randomly divided into 5 groups, one control group (normal saline), four CdTe QDs (exposed by intravenous injection of 0.2 ml CdTe QDs at the concentration of 0, 0.5, 5, 50 and 500 nmol/ml respectively). All mice were decapitated 24h after the injection. Concentration of MDA and the activities of SOD, CAT, 8-OHdG expression were examined by immunohistochemistry and hepatocellular apoptosis was measured with TUNEL resperctively.

RESULTS

The results showed in 500 nmol/ml CdTe QDs group, MDA concentration in the liver tissue were significantly higher than those of control group (P < 0.05). The activities of SOD in 50 and 500 nmol/ml and CAT in 5, 50 and 500 nmol/ml CdTe QDs groups were significantly lower than those of control group (P < 0.01). Positive staining for 8-OHdG appeared in 50 and 500 nmol/ml CdTe QDs groups and the apoptosis of liver cells was observed in 500 nmol/ml CdTe QDs group by TUNEL technique.

CONCLUSION

It was suggested that CdTe QDs at certain doses could induce oxidative damage effects of the mice liver in the condition of this experiment.