Androgen Synthesis by the Testes and Adrenal Glands of Rats Poisoned With Cadmium Chloride

Abstract

SUMMARY Androgen synthesis after administration of cadmium chloride to rats has been studied histologically, histochemically and biochemically. Incubation in vitro of testicular tissue removed 10 days after cadmium administration revealed markedly decreased testosterone synthesis. After 100 and 150 days, testosterone synthesis in vitro had increased progressively and significantly, but there was a marked decrease in the testosterone: androstenedione ratio. Surviving Leydig cells, giving typical histochemical reactions for 3β-, 16β- and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, were observed under the tunica albuginea immediately after cadmium poisoning. Fifty days after the cadmium treatment, mesenchymal cells, giving a histochemical 3α- and 16α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase reaction, but no other hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase reaction of normal Leydig cells, grew into the testes from the tunica albuginea. Weight, citric acid and fructose contents of seminal vesicles of cadmium-treated rats fell nearly to castration levels, but showed some degree of recovery thereafter. Studies in vitro on adrenal tissue from cadmium-poisoned rats suggested that the rate of testosterone biosynthesis from pregnenolone was increased.

Arsenic induced genotoxic and histopathological changes in male Swiss albino mice, Mus musculus

“…The histopathological alterations induced in the testis of As 2 O 3 treated mice involves distortion of seminiferous tubules with partial to almost complete disintegration of connective tissue between them; loss of lumen in the tubules due to desquamation and distortion of germinal epithelial and other tubular cells and cytoplasmic vacuolization in spermatogonia and spermatocytes which are more pronounced in 96 hours post-treatment mice. These results are in agreement with the data published by Parizek (1960), Mason et al (1964), Favino et al (1966), Saksena and Lau (1979), Sharma et al (1980), Elbetieha and Al-hamood (1997), Bataineh et al (1998), Mayyas et al (2005) and Yang et al (2006) for many other heavy metals. In the present study a significant reduction in sperm amount (some seminiferous tubules are totally devoid of sperm) was observed.…”

Zinc and cadmium concentrations in whole tissue and in separated epithelium and stroma from human benign prostatic hypertrophic glands

“…In fact, the only significant association found was an inverse relationship between testosterone and cadmium in the epithelium of BPH. The mechanism of this association is obscure, although in some animal experiments cadmium administration has been shown to impair testosterone synthesis [24].…”

Testosterone-dependent induction of metallothionein in genital organs of male rats

“…Male genital organs are extremely susceptible to cadmium insult, and cadmium is considered to be a potent carcinogen in various tissues including the prostate in experimental animal models [8]. The male auxiliary organs are under the control of testosterone, the synthesis of which is affected by cadmium administration in rats [9]. MT has been shown to play a detoxifying role against heavy-metal toxicity, particularly cadmium.…”

“…Male genital organs, such as testis and prostate, are susceptible to acute and chronic cadmium insult, resulting in necrotic changes in germ cells and tumorigenesis respectively (see reviews, in refs [7,8]. Although cadmium administration to rodents suppresses the synthesis of testosterone [9], no information is available on whether testosterone is involved in MT gene expression. We have thus investigated the effects of testosterone on MT gene expression in male genital tissues after orchidectomy, and as a result of testosterone treatment to testosterone-depleted rats.…”