In order to investigate the mechanism of reproductive toxicity, primary cultured rat Sertoli cells were exposed to 5, 15, or 30 μg/mL TiO<sub>2</sub> NPs for 24 h, and TiO<sub>2</sub> NPs internalization, expression of PKC (p-PKC) and p38 MAPK (p-p38 MAPK) as well as calcium homeostasis were examined.
Our findings suggest that the NF-κB, p38 MAPK, and PKC signal pathways are partially involved in the upregulation of KATP subunits Kir6.2/SUR1 expression induced by Aβ<sub>1-42</sub> cytotoxicity in neurons, which supports a potential theoretical basis of targeting these signal pathways in the treatment of AD.