Fig 9. Effects on male reproductive cells (TM3 Leydig and TM4 Sertoli).

The cell viability by WST-1 assay was evaluated in TM3 cells (A, B and C) and TM4 cells (D, E and F) following the exposure for 24h to TiO₂ NM-103 and NM-104, ZnO NM-110 and NM-111 and SiO2 NM-200 and NM-203. The ranges of doses used were between 0.125 μg/ml (0.037 μg/cm²) and 200 μg/ml (60.24 μg/cm²). WST-1 assay measurements were taken (120 min post addition). All results were corrected for WST-1, as the control showed presence of interference in absorbance reading as a result of WST. The statistical analysis of the data (n = 6) was performed by one way ANOVA, Dunnett's multiple comparison test and Tukey’s post-hoc test (p<0.001*).