This study assessed the sex-specific effects induced by CdTe QDs, on the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis in comparison to its dissolved counterpart. A 14 days exposure to CdTe QDs and dissolved Cd was conducted (10 μg Cd L⁻¹), analysing Cd accumulation, oxidative stress, biotransformation, metallothionein and oxidative damage in the gonads. Both Cd forms caused significant antioxidant alterations, whereby QDs were more pro-oxidant, leading to oxidative damage, being females more affected. Overall, biochemical impairments on gonads of M. galloprovincialis demonstrate that the reproductive toxicity induced by CdTe QDs in mussels are sex-dependent and mediated by oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. It is crucial to acknowledge how gametes are affected by metal-based nanoparticles, such as Cd-based QDs. As well as understanding the potential changes they may undergo at the cellular level during gametogenesis, embryogenesis and larval development potentially leading to serious impacts on population sustainability and ecosystem health.

这项研究评估了CdTe QD诱导的海洋贻贝Mytilus galloprovincialis与溶解的对应物相比的性别特异性作用。进行了14天的CdTe QD和溶解的Cd暴露（10μgCd L ^-1），分析了性腺中的Cd积累，氧化应激，生物转化，金属硫蛋白和氧化损伤。两种镉形式均引起显着的抗氧化剂改变，从而使量子点更具促氧化剂作用，导致氧化损伤，女性受到的影响更大。总体而言，鸡省分枝杆菌性腺的生化损伤证明CdTe量子点在贻贝中诱导的生殖毒性是性别依赖性的，并通过氧化应激和脂质过氧化作用介导。至关重要的是要认识配子如何受到基于金属的纳米粒子（如基于镉的量子点）的影响。除了了解它们在配子发生，胚发生和幼虫发育过程中可能在细胞水平上发生的潜在变化外，还可能对种群的可持续性和生态系统健康造成严重影响。