Cadmium testicular toxicity

Biswas, N. M., R. Sen Gupta, A. Chattopadhyay, G. R. Choudhury, and M. Sarkar. 2001. Effect of atenolol on cadmium-induced testicular toxicity in male rats. Reproductive Toxicology 15 699-704. 

Cadmium-induced acute testicular toxicity and testicular interstitial cell tumours in rats cmild be prevented by low-dose Cd (3.0 juM/kg subcutaneously) pre-treatment (Wahba et al. 1990). 

Cadmium also affects the toxicity of lead. A synergistic effect of these metals was found on prostatic cytology and testicular damage in male rats following intraperitoneal injection (Fahim and Khare 1980). Rats fed lead and cadmium or zinc had a marked reduction of reticulocytosis compared with rats fed lead alone (Thawley et al. 1977). Mice exposed simultaneously to lead and cadmium for 10 weeks had higher mortality rates than mice exposed to either metal alone (Exon et al. 1979). In addition, interactions between cadmium and lead have been reported at the behavioral effects level (Nation et al. 1990). 

Chromium has proved effective in counteracting the deleterious effects of cadmium in rats and of vanadium in chickens. High mortality rates and testicular atrophy occurred in rats subjected to an intraperitoneal injection of cadmium salts however, pretreatment with chromium ameliorated these effects (Stacey et al. 1983). The Cr-Cd relationship is not simple. In some cases, cadmium is known to suppress adverse effects induced in Chinese hamster (Cricetus spp.) ovary cells by Cr (Shimada et al. 1998). In southwestern Sweden, there was an 80% decline in chromium burdens in liver of the moose (Alces alces) between 1982 and 1992 from 0.21 to 0.07 mg Cr/kg FW (Frank et al. 1994). During this same period in this locale, moose experienced an unknown disease caused by a secondary copper deficiency due to elevated molybdenum levels as well as chromium deficiency and trace element imbalance (Frank et al. 1994). In chickens (Gallus sp.), 10 mg/kg of dietary chromium counteracted adverse effects on albumin metabolism and egg shell quality induced by 10 mg/kg of vanadium salts (Jensen and Maurice 1980). Additional research on the beneficial aspects of chromium in living resources appears warranted, especially where the organism is subjected to complex mixtures containing chromium and other potentially toxic heavy metals. 

In rat developmental studies, fetal effects including delayed ossification and decreased locomotor activity occurred at doses that also caused maternal toxicity. Cadmium sulfate injected into the lingual vein of female hamsters on day 8 of pregnancy caused a high incidence of resorption and malformed offspring. Acute necrosis of rat testes followed large doses orally or parenterally, but testicular effects have not been reported thus far in humans." ... 

Endocrine and Reproductive Effects. Because the male and female reproductive organs are under complex neuroendocrine and hormonal control, any toxicant that alters any of these processes can affect the reproductive system (see Chapters 17 and 20). In addition metals can act directly on the sex organs. Cadmium is known to produce testicular injury after acute exposure, and lead accumulation in the testes is associated with testicular degeneration, inhibition of spermatogenesis, and Leydig-cell atrophy. 

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