Structural and Oxidative Changes in the Kidney of Crucian Carp Induced by Silicon-Based Quantum Dots

Abstract

Silicon-based quantum dots were intraperitoneally injected in Carassius auratus gibelio specimens and, over one week, the effects on renal tissue were investigated by following their distribution and histological effects, as well as antioxidative system modifications. After three and seven days, detached epithelial cells from the basal lamina, dilated tubules and debris in the lumen of tubules were observed. At day 7, nephrogenesis was noticed. The reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration decreased in the first three days and started to rise later on. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased only after one week, whereas catalase (CAT) was up-regulated in a time-dependent manner. The activities of glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidise (GPX) decreased dramatically by approximately 50% compared to control, whereas the glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) increased significantly after 3 and 7 days of treatment. Oxidative modifications of proteins and the time-dependent increase of Hsp70 expression were also registered. Our data suggest that silicon-based quantum dots induced oxidative stress followed by structural damages. However, renal tissue is capable of restoring its integrity by nephron development.

Histopatological alterations and oxidative stress in liver and kidney of Leuciscus cephalus following exposure to heavy metals in the Tur River, North Western Romania

“…2E). Similar variations were observed previously in fish liver and kidney exposed to other types of xenobiotics (Petrache et al, 2012;Stanca et al, 2013). Recently, it was highlighted that oxidized protein products induced hepatic and renal fibrosis (Li et al, 2014).…”

Interaction of silicon-based quantum dots with gibel carp liver: oxidative and structural modifications

“…Our current results indicated that protein carbonylation is not a characteristic alteration in silicon-based QD-induced oxidative stress in the liver since protein carbonyls maintained at a basal level (Table 1). Our previous results indicated a decrease in PSH content in the kidney of C. gibelio [70], while in white muscle tissue, this parameter remained unchanged after QDs administration [71]. These differences are probably due to the QDs in vivo distribution, since the liver is a main target…”

Complex responses to Si quantum dots accumulation in carp liver tissue: Beyond oxidative stress

“…Our previous studies on gibel carp revealed the presence of QDs in the liver [42], kidney [43] and even white muscle tissue [44] as early as 24 h post ip. injection.…”