Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Study the effects of nickel nanoparticles (Ni NPs) on apoptosis in SD rat Sertoli-germ cell culture and research on related mechanisms. METHODS: We established a rat Sertoli-germ cell co-culture system in vitro and the cells were treated with Ni NPs. Survive rates were determined by using the MTT assay. Apoptosis morphology were determined by Hoechst33258. Apoptosis index of Sertoli cells and germ cells were determined by Annexin V/PI staining;lncRNA expression profiles were detected to screen out the apoptosis-related genes. RESULTS: The survival rates in the Ni NPs exposure groups (25,50,100,200,400 and 800 μg/mL) were significantly lower than that in the control group (0 μg/mL) after 24 h (P < 0.01). The survival rates decreased as the concentrations of Ni NPs increased. As the Hochest33258 shows,the treatment groups showed the dense granular luminescence and obvious nuclear morphological changes in the nucleus or cytoplasm. The apoptosis indexes were 8.80%±0.50%,11.00%±0.70%,12.53%±0.71%,15.95%±0.54% and 17.80%±0.76% as the doses were 25,50,100,200,400 μg/mL. Apoptosis indexes increased as the concentrations of Ni NPs increased. The apoptosis indexes in the Ni NPs exposure groups were significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group,there were 169 lncRNA (117 up and 52 down) associated with apoptosis in the exposure group of 100 μg/mL. CONCLUSION: The study shows that Ni NPs can cause apoptosis of SD rat Sertoli-germ cell co-culture with significant cytotoxicity. LncRNA were closely related to the apoptosis of SD rat co-culture Sertoli-germ cell.

Key words: nickel nanoparticles, rat, apoptosis, lncRNA