The Destructive Effect of Cadmium Ion on Testicular Tissue and Its Prevention by Zinc

Abstract

SUMMARY The subcutaneous administration of cadmium salts (cadmium chloride or lactate) to male rats and mice leads to acute destruction of the testes, with destruction of the seminiferous epithelium and interstitial tissue. These changes in turn evoke castration phenomena, but the atrophied accessory sex organs retain the ability to react to testosterone propionate. Within 20 days after the injection of cadmium, proliferation of fibroblasts in the interstitial spaces under the albuginea begins and is accompanied by an extensive formation of new blood vessels. Later, new Leydig cells appear; this is followed by a gradual return of the endocrine function of the testes. The spermatogenic epithelium of the seminiferous tubules, on the other hand, does not regenerate even 133 days after the injection of cadmium. The simultaneous administration of a large dose of zinc salts protects the testes completely against cadmium damage. The mechanism of interaction between these physico-chemically related metals and the theoretical and practical significance of these observations will be studied further.

Identification of mouse SLC39A8 as the transporter responsible for cadmium-induced toxicity in the testis

“…It is known that Cd-induced testicular necrosis is common across all animal species having testes: rodents, opossum, armadillos, frogs, pigeons, roosters, and fish (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). Cellular events that precede Cd-induced testicular toxicity indicate that vascular endothelial cell injury is the earliest and, perhaps, the causative event (16,(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24).…”

Affinity Labelling Studies With 109cadmium in Cadmium-Induced Testicular Injury in Rats

“…The ability of zinc to prevent cadmium injury, apparently by a competitive mechanism, was noted by Parizek (1957) and confirmed by others. Cysteine and other thiols also protect the testis from cadmium, as does prior administra¬ tion of a sub-threshold dose of Cd 2 days before the threshold dose.…”

“…Cadmium is known to cause selective injury to the testes following injection of a single subacute dose into animals with scrotal testes (Parizek, 1957). Rats treated with as little as 0-012 mmol Cd/kg develop haemorrhagic necrosis of the testes within 48 hr, followed by atrophy and permanent sterility (Gunn & Gould, 1970).…”

Genotoxicity of Glycol Ethers

“…It has been suggested that these acids are, in fact, the active metabolites (11,18) and that the injury observed is a result of zinc loss from testis, which occurs 4 days after treatment with EGME or methoxyacetic acid (18). Zinc concentration has been shown to have an important role in testicular injury induced by cadmium (19), and phthalate esters (20)(21)(22)). …”