Study on reproductive toxicity of subchronic cadmium exposure in male rats

  Objective   To explore the effects of subchronic cadmium exposure on male sexual systems.

  Methods   24 male rats of SD-strain were divided into four groups.0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mg Cd²⁺ /(kg·bw)were injected subcutaneously in different groups for 5 weeks. After the exposure, the rats were sacrificed and the testis, epididymis were separated to detect.

  Results   The testis tissue coefficient increased in the high dose group; sperm concentration, viability decreased, while sperm malformation rate increased in every dose groups. The hemoglobin, MDA contents increased significantly in the middle and high dose groups, but the content of MT increased only in high dose group.

  Conclusion   Subchronic cadmium exposure can induce male sexual glands injury, especially to the testis. The mechanism may relate to peroxiodative injury, the lack of protection effect of MT.