Carbon Quantum Dots Are Able to Rebalance Carbohydrateand Lipid Foci S torage in Germ and Somatic Cells;An Experimental Trial

Background: Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are nanoparticles(less than ۱۰ nm in size) of carbon. Indeed, CQDs are widelyused in various indus trial and biological fields, including bioimaging,drug delivery, catalysis, optronics, and fingerprint recovery.The effects of CQDs on spermatogenesis are not fullyexplored. The main energy sources for developing germ cellsare carbohydrates and fatty acids, and any alteration in theirconcentration or intracellular s torage will have adverse effectson germ cell development. The current s tudy was considered touncover the possible dose-dependent effect of CQDs on carbohydrateand lipid foci s torage in germ and somatic cells of ratstes ticular tissue.Materials and Methods: For this purpose, ۲۴ mature maleWis tar rats were divided into control (received the same volumeof solvent), ۵.۲ mg/kg, ۱۰ mg/kg, and ۴۰ mg/kg CQDs (intraperitoneally,n=۶/each group) groups. Following ۵ weeks, therats were euthanized and the tes ticles were dissected. The periodicacid Schiff (PAS) and Sudan black-B s taining techniqueswere used to examine the intracytoplasmic carbohydrate andlipid foci s torage in the germ and Sertoli cells per one seminiferoustubule. One-way ANOVA and bonferroni pos t-hoc tes tswere used for s tatis tical analyses.Results: Observation revealed that CQDs, dose-dependently,could reduce the germ and Sertoli cells carbohydrate s torage.Accordingly, the mean dis tributions of PAS+ spermatogonialand Sertoli cells were decreased (P<۰.۰۵) in CQDs-receivedgroups. This situation was more evident in ۴۰ mg/kg CQDsreceivedrats. In addition, the mean dis tributions of Sertolicells with intensive intracytoplasmic lipid foci s torage wereincreased in ۱۰ mg/kg, and ۴۰ mg/kg CQDs-received groupsversus control and ۵.۲ mg/kg CQDs-received rats (P<۰.۰۵).Conclusion: CQDs are capable of adversely affecting carbohydrateand lipid s torage in germ and Sertoli cells, which cannegatively impact metabolic interactions in these cells. An increasedlipid s torage in Sertoli cells is also associated with increasedcellular damage in seminiferous tubules