Keywords: 
• cadmium telluride quantum dots /
• mice /
• coagulation-related factors /
• toxicity

Abstract: To study the effects of cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTe QDs) on coagulation- related factors in mice, and to further explore the cardiovascular toxic mechanism of CdTe QDs. 48 male ICR mice were randomly divided into 6 groups including 8 mice in each group. CdTe QDs with 0.15 µmol·kg^-1, 1.5 µmol·kg^-1 and 15 µmol·kg^-1 were injected into mice for 1 d via tail vein, respectively. The exposure time of 15 µmol·kg^-1 group was prolonged to 3 d and 7 d. Subsequently, the content changes of coagulation-related factors in mice was detected. The results showed that, compared with the control group, the content of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and fibrinogen (FIB) increased gradually, whereas the content of tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) gradually decreased with the increment of administrated dose, which showed a significant dose-effect relationship. In addition to the group of 15 µmol·kg^-1 dose, the contents of tissue factor (TF), coagulation factor XII (FXII) and plasminogen (Plg) levels increased, but the content of antithrombin III (AT-III) did not change significantly. With the exposure time extending, the contents of TF, FXII, FIB and t-PA increased significantly at first and then decreased. The content of TFPI reached to the bottom at the 1st d and then gradually increased. The content of AT-III reached to the bottom at the 7th d. Acute exposure to CdTe QDs can change the contents of TF, FXII, FIB, TFPI, Plg and t-PA in the plasma of mice significantly, and different trendency were found. These results suggested that CdTe QDs may activate the coagulation and fibrinolysis systems and inhibit the anticoagulation system. Therefore, coagulation dysfunction is caused.