Subcellular study of the cadmium selenide nanoparticles (CdSe-NPs) toxicity on a terrestrial bioindicator model Helix aspersa

Development of nanomaterials and their use on an industrial scale have been booming over the last decade. Indeed, the physicochemical properties of these materials allow their use for various applications, ranging from the manufacture of food products or cosmetics, to the development of tools for electronics or the biomedical sciences. The aim of this work was to study the effects of CdSe on the general redox state of hepatopancreas of the snail Helix aspersa and to evaluate the effect of this nanomaterial on mitochondrial swelling and respiration. Our results show an increase in the activity of the antioxidant enzymes of mitochondria (GST, Catalase, MDA) and a decrease in GSH and GPx level in mitochondrial hepatopancreas. Thus, we showed an increase in mitochondrial swelling with a decrease in respiratory level. Finally, our study suggested that mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress were high in the digestive gland of snails treated with 3.6 and 7.2 μg/g/2day.