Semiconductor nanoparticles generate photoelectrons and photo-induced holes under light excitation, and thus may influence the growth of microbial cells. The highly oxidative holes may severely damage the cells, while the photoelectrons may promote microbial metabolism. In this study, we evaluated the effect of exogenous cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles on bacterial growth using OD₆₀₀ and colony forming unit (CFU) as indicators. The oxidase activities, the concentration of pyruvate and malondialdehyde, and the expression of relevant genes assessed by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR were analyzed to investigate the effect of excited CdS on cellular metabolism. The results showed that the OD₆₀₀ and pyruvate accumulation of E. coli increased by 32.4% and 34.6%, respectively, under light conditions. Moreover, the relative expression level of the division protein gene ftsZ was increased more than 50%, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle pathway gene icdA and gltA increased by 86% and 103%, respectively. The results indicated that photoelectrons could be used by microorganisms, resulting in promoted growth and metabolism. This study gives a deep insight into the interaction between nanoparticles and bacteria.
Escherichia coli/metabolism* ; Nanoparticles ; Cadmium Compounds/metabolism* ; Quantum Dots

Cadmium/metabolism* ; Kidney ; Cells, Cultured ; Mitochondria ; Metallothionein/metabolism* ; Liver

Objective: To study the effects of cadmium chloride (CdCl(2)) exposure on testicular autophagy levels and blood-testis barrier integrity in prepubertal male SD rats and testicular sertoli (TM4) cells. Methods: In July 2021, 9 4-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group (normal saline), low dose group (1 mg/kg·bw CdCl(2)) and high dose group (2 mg/kg·bw CdCl(2)), and were exposed with CdCl(2) by intrabitoneal injection. 24 h later, HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of testis of rats, biological tracer was used to observe the integrity of blood-testis barrier, and the expression levels of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) -Ⅰ and LC3-Ⅱ in testicular tissue were detected. TM4 cells were treated with 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 μmol/L CdCl(2) for 24 h to detect the toxic effect of cadmium. The cells were divided into blank group (no exposure), exposure group (10.0 μmol/L CdCl(2)), experimental group[10.0 μmol/L CdCl(2)+60.0 μmol/L 3-methyladenine (3-MA) ] and inhibitor group (60.0 μmol/L 3-MA). After 24 h of treatment, Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression levels of LC3-Ⅱ, ubiquitin binding protein p62, tight junction protein ZO-1 and adhesion junction protein N-cadherin. Results: The morphology and structure of testicular tissue in the high dose group were obvious changed, including uneven distribution of seminiferous tubules, irregular shape, thinning of seminiferous epithelium, loose structure, disordered arrangement of cells, abnormal deep staining of nuclei and vacuoles of Sertoli cells. The results of biological tracer method showed that the integrity of blood-testis barrier was damaged in the low and high dose group. Western blot results showed that compared with control group, the expression levels of LC3-Ⅱ in testicular tissue of rats in low and high dose groups were increased, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Compared with the 0 μmol/L, after exposure to 5.0, 10.0 μmol/L CdCl(2), the expression levels of ZO-1 and N-cadherin in TM4 cells were significantly decreased, and the expression level of p62 and LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ were significantly increased, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Compared with the exposure group, the relative expression level of p62 and LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ in TM4 cells of the experimental group were significantly decreased, while the relative expression levels of ZO-1 and N-cadherin were significantly increased, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The mechanism of the toxic effect of cadmium on the reproductive system of male SD rats may be related to the effect of the autophagy level of testicular tissue and the destruction of the blood-testis barrier integrity.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Testis ; Cadmium Chloride/metabolism* ; Cadmium ; Blood-Testis Barrier/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Cadherins/metabolism* ; Autophagy

It is important to research the rules about accumulation and distribution of arsenic and cadmium by tea plants, which will give us some scientific ideas about how to control the contents of arsenic and cadmium in tea. In this study, by field investigation and pot trial, we found that mobility of arsenic and cadmium in tea plants was low. Most arsenic and cadmium absorbed were fixed in feeding roots and only small amount was transported to the above-ground parts. Distribution of arsenic and cadmium, based on their concentrations of unit dry matter, in tea plants grown on un-contaminated soil was in the order: feeding roots>stems approximately main roots>old leaves>young leaves. When tea plants were grown on polluted soils simulated by adding salts of these two metals, feeding roots possibly acted as a buffer and defense, and arsenic and cadmium were transported less to the above-ground parts. The concentration of cadmium in soil significantly and negatively correlated with chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and biomass production of tea plants.
Arsenic ; metabolism ; Biomass ; Cadmium ; metabolism ; Camellia sinensis ; metabolism ; Chlorophyll ; metabolism ; Photochemistry ; Plant Shoots ; metabolism ; Tea ; metabolism

Production of free radicals of superoxide anion in tissues by cadmium, activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase to protect tissue damages caused by the free radicals and ATPase that plays an important role in energy metabolism at cellular level were investigated. Experiments in viro were conducted with liver, kidney and testicle tissue homogenates of rats adding 0.05~0.50 mM cadmium chloride, and in vivo experiments administering single dose of 5mg of cadmium/kg of body weight in 0.1% cadmium chloride solution intraperitoneally 48 hours prior to evisceration. Production of superoxide radicals in liver and testicle increased with addition of cadmium in vitro, but not in kidney. In vivo experiments, however superoxide radicals slightly increased in liver and kidney but not in testicle. Superoxide dismutase (Cu, Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD), catalase and ATPase (total, (Mg++)- & (Na+)- (K+)-) activity decreased in the presence of cadmium in dose dependent manner. Reduction of these enzyme activities varied not only with dosage of cadmium but also with type of tissue and between in vitro and in vivo experiment.
Adenosine Triphosphatases* ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Cadmium Chloride ; Cadmium* ; Catalase* ; Energy Metabolism ; Free Radicals ; Kidney* ; Liver* ; Rats* ; Superoxide Dismutase* ; Superoxides* ; Testis*

When garlic (Allium sativum) was administered to rat per os simultaneously with cadmium, methylmercury and phenylmercury to detect the protective effect against the heavy metal poisoning, accumulation of heavy metals in liver, kidneys, bone and testes were decreased, and histopathological damages and the inhibition of serum alkaline phosphatase activities by heavy metals were reduced. Such effect of garlic was not shown in the 1.7% garlic treated group and most remarkable in the 6.7% garlic treated group. The protective effect of garlic was superior to those of 2,3 dimercapto-1-propanol (BAL) and D-penicillamine (PEN), and nearly similar to those of 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) and N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (APEN), the current remedies, while garlic was not effective as a curative agent for heavy metal poisoning. The excretion of cadmium was enhanced, more through feces than urine by garlic but the effect to the urinary excretion of cadmium was not significant comparing with DMSA or APEN when cadmium was ip injected in the first 3 days during the 12 days of oral administration of DMSA, APEN or garlic.
Animals ; Cadmium/metabolism ; Cadmium Poisoning/metabolism/*prevention & control ; *Garlic ; Male ; Mercury/metabolism ; Mercury Poisoning/metabolism/*prevention & control ; *Plants, Medicinal ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Strains ; Tissue Distribution

In this study, the effect of brassinosteroid(BR) on the physiological and biochemical conditions of 2-year-old Panax notoginseng under the cadmium stress was investigated by the pot experiments. The results showed that cadmium treatment at 10 mg·kg~(-1) inhibited the root viability of P. notoginseng, significantly increased the content of H_2O_2 and MDA in the leaves and roots of P. noto-ginseng, caused oxidative damage of P. notoginseng, and reduced the activities of SOD and CAT. Cadmium stress reduced the chlorophyll content of P. notoginseng, increased leaf F_o, reduced F_m, F_v/F_m, and PIABS, and damaged the photosynthesis system of P. notoginseng. Cadmium treatment increased the soluble sugar content of P. notoginseng leaves and roots, inhibited the synthesis of soluble proteins, reduced the fresh weight and dry weight, and inhibited the growth of P. notoginseng. External spray application of 0.1 mg·L~(-1) BR reduced the H_2O_2 and MDA content in P. notoginseng leaves and roots under the cadmium stress, alleviated cadmium-induced oxidative damage to P. notoginseng, improved the antioxidant enzyme activity and root activity of P. notoginseng, increased the content of chlorophyll, reduced the F_o of P. notoginseng leaves, increased F_m, F_v/F_m, and PIABS, alleviated the cadmium-induced damage to the photosynthesis system, and improved the synthesis ability of soluble proteins. In summary, BR can enhance the anti-cadmium stress ability of P. notoginseng by regulating the antioxidant enzyme system and photosynthesis system of P. notoginseng under the cadmium stress. In the context of 0.1 mg·L~(-1) BR, P. notoginseng can better absorb and utilize light energy and synthesize more nutrients, which is more suitable for the growth and development of P. notoginseng.
Cadmium/metabolism* ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Panax notoginseng ; Brassinosteroids/pharmacology* ; Chlorophyll/metabolism* ; Plant Roots/metabolism* ; Stress, Physiological

Vegetables are important constituents of the human diet. Heavy metals and nitrate are among the major contaminants of vegetables. Consumption of vegetables and fruits with accumulated heavy metals and nitrate has the potential to damage different body organs leading to unwanted effects. Breeding vegetables with low heavy metal and nitrate contaminants is a cost-effective approach. We investigated 38 water spinach genotypes for low Cd and nitrate co-accumulation. Four genotypes, i.e. JXDY, GZQL, XGDB, and B888, were found to have low co-accumulation of Cd (<0.71 mg/kg dry weight) and nitrate (<3100 mg/kg fresh weight) in the edible parts when grown in soils with moderate contamination of both Cd (1.10 mg/kg) and nitrate (235.2 mg/kg). These genotypes should be appropriate with minimized risk to humans who consume them. The Cd levels in the edible parts of water spinach were positively correlated with the concentration of Pb or Zn, but Cd, Pb, or Zn was negatively correlated with P concentration. These results indicate that these three heavy metals may be absorbed into the plant in similar proportions or in combination, minimizing the influx to aerial parts. Increasing P fertilizer application rates appears to prevent heavy metal and nitrate translocation to shoot tissues and the edible parts of water spinach on co-contaminated soils.
Biomass ; Cadmium/metabolism* ; Chlorophyll/analysis* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Ipomoea/genetics* ; Nitrates/metabolism*

Interaction of salinity (NaCl) and cadmium (Cd) on growth, mineral nutrients, Na and Cd accumulation in four barley genotypes differing in salt tolerance was studied in a hydroponic experiment. Cd, NaCl and their combined stresses reduced Ca and Mg concentrations in roots and shoots, K concentration in shoots, increased K and Cu concentrations in roots relative to control, but had non-significant effect on micronutrients Cu, Fe and Mn concentrations in shoot. The three stresses reduced accumulation of most tested nutrients in both roots and shoots, except NaCl and NaCl+Cd stresses for root K and shoot Cu accumulation in salt tolerant genotypes. The salt tolerant genotypes did not have higher nutrient concentration and accumulation than the sensitive ones when exposed to Cd and NaCl stresses. In conclusion, the affecting mechanism of Cd stress on nutrients was to some extent different from salinity stress, and the NaCl+Cd stress was not equal to additional Cd and NaCl stresses, probably due to the different valence and competitive site of Na(+) and Cd(2+). NaCl addition in the Cd-containing medium caused remarkable reductions in both Cd concentration and accumulation, with the extent of reduction being also dependent on genotypes. The salt-tolerant genotypes had lower Na concentration than sensitive ones.
Cadmium ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Chlorophyll ; metabolism ; Genotype ; Hordeum ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism ; Minerals ; metabolism ; Sodium ; metabolism ; Sodium Chloride

Effects of cadmium (Cd) on microbial biomass, activity and community diversity were assessed in a representative variable charge soil (Typic Aquult) using an incubation study. Cadmium was added as Cd(NO3)(2) to reach a concentration range of 0-16 mg Cd/kg soil. Soil extractable Cd generally increased with Cd loading rate, but decreased with incubation time. Soil microbial biomass was enhanced at low Cd levels (0.5-1 mg/kg), but was inhibited consistently with increasing Cd rate. The ratio of microbial biomass C/N varied with Cd treatment levels, decreasing at low Cd rate (<0.7 mg/kg available Cd), but increasing progressively with Cd loading. Soil respiration was restrained at low Cd loading (<1 mg/kg), and enhanced at higher Cd levels. Soil microbial metabolic quotient (MMQ) was generally greater at high Cd loading (1-16 mg/kg). However, the MMQ is also affected by other factors. Cd contamination reduces species diversity of soil microbial communities and their ability to metabolize different C substrates. Soils with higher levels of Cd contamination showed decreases in indicator phospholipids fatty acids (PLFAs) for Gram-negative bacteria and actinomycetes, while the indicator PLFAs for Gram-positive bacteria and fungi increased with increasing levels of Cd contamination.
Biomass ; Cadmium ; pharmacology ; Carbon ; metabolism ; Fatty Acids ; metabolism ; Microbial Viability ; drug effects ; Nitrogen ; metabolism ; Phospholipids ; metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Time Factors