The Co-Induced Effects of Molybdenum and Cadmium on the Trace Elements and the mRNA Expression Levels of CP and MT in Duck Testicles

Abstract

To investigate the chronic toxicity of molybdenum (Mo) and cadmium (Cd) on the trace elements and the mRNA expression levels of ceruloplasmin (CP) and metallothionein (MT) in duck testicles, 120 healthy 11-day-old male ducks were randomly divided into six groups with 20 ducks in each group. Ducks were treated with the diet containing different dosages of Mo or Cd. The source of Mo and Cd was hexaammonium molybdate ([(NH4)6Mo7O24·4H2O]) and cadmium sulfate (3CdSO4·8H2O), respectively, in this study. After being treated for 60 and 120 days, ten male birds in each group were randomly selected and euthanized and then testicles were aseptically collected for determining the mRNA expression levels of MT and CP, antioxidant indexes, and contents of trace elements in the testicle. In addition, testicle tissues at 120 days were subjected to histopathological analysis with the optical microscope. The results showed that co-exposure to Mo and Cd resulted in an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) level while decrease in xanthine oxidase (XOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. The mRNA expression level of MT gene was upregulated while CP was decreased in combination groups. Contents of Mo, copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) decreased in combined groups while Cd increased in Cd and combined groups at 120 days. Furthermore, severe congestion, low sperm count, and malformation were observed in low dietary of Mo combined with Cd group and high dietary of Mo combined with Cd group. Our results suggested that Mo and Cd might aggravate testicular degeneration synergistically through altering the mRNA expression levels of MT and CP, increasing lipid peroxidation through inhibiting related enzyme activities and disturbing homeostasis of trace elements in testicles. Interaction of Mo and Cd may have a synergistic effect on the testicular toxicity.

Transcriptomics and transmission ultrastructural examination reveals the nephrotoxicity of cadmium in laying hens

“…Zn is an essential trace element, and is the component of more than 300 enzymes related to cell metabolism and gene expression. Cd can replace Zn and bind to MT, resulting in the redistribution of Zn in the cytoplasm and serum (Xia et al 2016). Previous studies have reported that 1-day-old broiler chickens exposed to 100 mg/kg Cd had higher concentrations of Cu and lower concentrations of Mn and Fe in the kidney (Al-Waeli et al 2012).…”

iTRAQ-Based Sperm Proteomic Analyses Reveals Candidate Proteins Affecting the Quality of Spermatozoa From Boar on Plateaus

“…The fertility-related protein markers ENO1, ATP5B, VDAC2, GPX4, and UQCRC2 were identi ed from 20 individual bull semen samples [38]. CP is a Cu-containing protein and an oxidase with high antioxidation capacity, which is involved in scavenging oxygen free radicals and protecting various organs from lipid peroxidation and other types of oxidative attack in the extracellular space [39]. Dietary addition of Mo indirectly increases oxidative stress to exacerbate Cd toxicity by reducing the expression of MT and CP, which protect testicles from lipoperoxidation and other types of oxidative stress [40].…”