Effects of Cadmium and /or Chromium on reproductive organs and semen profiles of male albino rats

Abstract

To evaluate the potential hazards of cadmium and/or chromium on the reproductive system of adult male albino rat. Design: Randomized controlled study. Animals: Forty mature male albino rats weighing 260 ± 10 g. Procedures: Rats were allocated into four groups (ten animals each). Control group (group 1), group 2 received 4.4 mg kg -1 cadmium chloride, group 3 was given 2.5 mg kg-1 sodium dichromate and group 4 received combination of Cd (2.2 mg kg -1 ) and Cr (1.25mg kg -1 ) orally, once daily for 65 consecutive days. Results: Exposure to Cd or Cr, in particular their combination, caused a reduction in the index weights of testes, epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate glands. They induced a reduction of sperm count and viability with an increase of abnormal sperm morphology. Interestingly, in the combination group (Cd and Cr together), the deleterious effects were more noticeable. Pathologically, both Cd and Cr produced degenerative changes in seminiferous tubules, necrosis of spermatogenic epithelium within the testis. Moreover, the interstitial tissue of epididymis showed marked edema and prostate showed necrosis and serous exudate of lining epithelium. In the interaction group, testis showed complete degenerative changes and necrosis of spermatogenic epithelium, with marked interstitial edema and hyperplastic epithelial lining of epididymal tubules. Conclusion and clinical relevance:The present results support the hypothesis that the testis is one of the most sensitive organs to Cd and/or Cr and that the exposure to any of them or to their combination lead to testicular damage and thereby male infertility.

Immunochemical Evaluation of Biomarkers of Carcinogenesis, Angiogenesis, Neuro-Cancer Interactions and Demyelination in Cadmium Chloride-Induced Testicular Toxicity in Rats.

“…This observation suggests that CdCl 2 -exposure resulted in shrinkage of the testes with associated significant reduction of GSI and testicular weight in rats. The findings of this study are in agreement with those of previous studies which reported that Cd-exposure resulted in decreased testicular weight in animal models [1,33].…”

“…Cd is equally an established carcinogen in animals [7,16,37]. Cd-exposure resulted in decreased testicular weight [7,30], necrosis of spermatogenic epithelium and degenerations of testicular seminiferous tubules [7], depletion of germ cells, testicular necrosis, carcinogenesis and sterility in in vivo models, and adverse effects on testicular cells in in vitro models [1,33]. Specifically, Cd-induced testicular toxicity resulted in significant decreases of sperm count, sperm motility, testosterone synthesis, spermatogonia, Sertoli cells and Leydig cells in rat testis [23,40].…”

“…In addition, Cd is an established carcinogen [1,8,30,33], while angiogenesis is a significant component of carcinogenesis and consequent associated metastasis [7,37]. VEGF is an established angiogenic factor, and abnormal VEGF upregulation is associated with increased angiogenesis [25].…”

Influence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles and/or cadmium chloride oral exposure on testicular morphology, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in rats: Ameliorative role of co-enzyme Q10

“…The Cd-induced necrotic and degenerative changes could explain the loss of body weight and testicular weight via derangement in some testicular constructions, such as seminiferous tubules and Leydig cells, that typically account for 70 %–80 % of the testicular mass [ 45 ]. Moreover, the Cd-induced lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage could contribute to reproductive organ atrophy [ 46 ]. Yet, herein, rats given TiO 2 NPs exhibited a significant increase in body weight gain and testicular weight.…”