Search Results (2)

This study examined the effects of exposure to lead acetate (PbAc) and/or aluminum trioxide nanoparticles (Al₂O₃NPs) on testicular function. Additionally, the probable reproprotective effects of quercetin (QTN) against Al₂O₃NPs and PbAc co-exposure in male Sprague Dawely rats were assessed. Al₂O₃NPs (100 mg/kg b.wt.), PbAc (50 mg/kg b.wt.), and QTN (20 mg/kg b.wt.) were orally administered for 60 days. Then, spermiogram, histopathological examinations of the testis and accessory glands, and immunohistochemical detection of androgen receptors (AR) and tumor necrotic factor alpha (TNF-α) were achieved. Moreover, serum levels of male sex hormones and testicular levels of antioxidant indices were estimated. The results showed that Al₂O₃NP_s and/or PbAc caused significant sperm abnormalities, testicular oxidative stress, and histopathological changes. Furthermore, serum testosterone, LH, and FSH levels significantly decreased, while estradiol levels significantly increased. The Al₂O₃NPs and/or PbAc co-exposed group had more obvious disturbances. Furthermore, QTN co-administration significantly reversed the Al₂O₃NPs and PbAc-induced testicular histopathological alterations, reduced antioxidant defenses, and altered AR and TNF-α immune expression in testicular tissues. Conclusively, Al₂O₃NPs and/or PbAc evoked testicular dysfunction by inducing oxidative injury and inflammation. However, QTN oral dosing effectively mitigated the negative effects of Al₂O₃NPs and PbAc by suppressing oxidative stress and inflammation and improving the antioxidant defense system. Full article

Structural, optical and electrical properties of Al+MoO₃ and Au+MoO₃ thin films prepared by simultaneous magnetron sputtering deposition were investigated. The influence of MoO₃ sputtering power on the Al and Au nanoparticle formation and spatial distribution was explored. We demonstrated the formation of spatially arranged Au nanoparticles in the MoO₃ matrix, while Al incorporates in the MoO₃ matrix without nanoparticle formation. The dependence of the Au nanoparticle size and arrangement on the MoO₃ sputtering power was established. The Al-based films show a decrease of overall absorption with an Al content increase, while the Au-based films have the opposite trend. The transport properties of the investigated films also are completely different. The resistivity of the Al-based films increases with the Al content, while it decreases with the Au content increase. The reason is a different transport mechanism that occurs in the films due to their different structural properties. The choice of the incorporated material (Al or Au) and its volume percentage in the MoO₃ matrix enables the design of materials with desirable optical and electrical characteristics for a variety of applications. Full article