The Cytotoxicity, DNA Fragmentation, and Decreasing Velocity Induced by Chromium (III) Oxide on Rainbow Trout Spermatozoa

Abstract The present study aimed to determine the cytotoxicity of Chromium (III) oxide micro particles (Cr2O3-Ps) in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) spermatozoa. Firstly, Cr2O3-Ps were synthesized and structurally characterized the surface, morphological for particle size and thermal properties. In addition, its structural and elemental purity was determined using EDX spectrum and elemental maps. Structural purity, thermal properties, and stability of Cr2O3-Ps were also examined in detail by performing thermal analysis techniques. The cytotoxicity of structurally defined Cr2O3-Ps was measured by the observation of velocities, antioxidant activities, and DNA damages in spermatozoa after exposure in vitro. The straight line velocity (VSL), the curvilinear velocity (VCL), and the angular path velocity (VAP) of spermatozoa decreased after exposure to Cr2O3-Ps. While the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the catalase (CAT) decreased, the lipid peroxidation increased in a dose-dependent manner. However, the total glutathione (tGSH) did not affect in this period. DNA damages was also determined in spermatozoa using Comet assay. According to DNA in tail (%) data, DNA damages have been detected with gradually increasing concentrations of Cr2O3-Ps. Furthermore, all of class types related to DNA fragmentation has been observed between 50 µg/L and 500 µg/L concentrations of Cr2O3-Ps exposed to rainbow trout spermatozoa. At the end of this study, we determined that the effective concentrations (EC50) were 76.67 µg/L for VSL and 87.77 µg/L for VCL. Finally, these results about Cr2O3-Ps may say to be major risk concentrations over 70 µg/L for fish reproduction in aquatic environments.