[Effects of CdTe QDs on oxidative stress and DNA damage of liver cells in mice].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of CdTe QDs (cadmium telluride quantum dots) on oxidative stress and DNA damage of liver cells in mice.

METHODS

Thirty ICR male mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: one negative control (normal saline) group. Three CdTe QDs groups (exposed by intravenous injection of 0.2 ml of CdTe QDs at the concentration of 3.75, 37.5 and 375 nmol/ml respectively) for electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) test, and another positive control group (exposed by intravenous injection of 0.2 ml of cyclophosphamide 20 mg/ml) for single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) test. All mice were decapitated 24h after the injection, free radicals and DNA damage of liver cells were detected by EPR and SCGE.

RESULTS

The levels of oxygen free radicals detected by EPR were increased with the increase of CdTe QDs. The tail length, olive tail moment, tail DNA (%) and the ratio of tail/head examined by SCGE were also increased with the increase of the dosage of CdTe QDs (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

CdTe QDs could induce oxidative stress and DNA damage of liver cells in mice with a dose-effect relationship.