Abstract
Environmental exposure to cadmium (Cd) contributes to a decline in the quality of human semen. Although the testis is sensitive to Cd exposure, the mechanism underlying how cadmium affects the testis remains to be defined. In this study, male mice were treated with intraperitoneal injections of 0, 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 mg CdCl2/kg/day for 10 days, respectively. Both the testicular weight and the 3β-HSD activity of Leydig cells were significantly reduced with the administration of 2.5 mg CdCl2/kg/day. The height of endothelial cells in the interstitial blood vessels significantly increased with the use of 2.5 mg CdCl2/kg/day compared with the control. Western blot data showed that the protein levels of CD31, αSMA, caveolin and Ng2 increased with cadmium exposure, and this increase was particularly significant with the administration of 2.5 mg CdCl2/kg/day. CD31, αSMA, caveolin and Ng2 are related to angiogenesis. Based on our data, cadmium exposure may stimulate the proliferation of the mural cells and endothelial cells of blood vessels, which may lead to abnormal function of the testis.
Highlights
IntroductionReproduction is an important process for the survival and development of a species
After the male mice were treated with different doses of cadmium, it was observed that the weights of the testes were slightly decreased in the 1.5 mg/kg group and significantly decreased in the 2.5 mg/kg group, from 33.41 ± 1.32 to 31.19 ± 1.54 mg
Under Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), the mitochondria of the Leydig cells became disorganized, and vesicles were pronounced in the 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 mg/kg groups compared with the control
Summary
Reproduction is an important process for the survival and development of a species. Recent data indicate that infertility occurs in 15% of couples who are of reproductive age, including ovulatory dysfunction, male factor infertility, and tubal disease [1,2]. Subfertility and sterility are male reproductive disorders, which are related to the environment [3]. Male causes of infertility are responsible for 40–50% of all cases of infertility [4]. Infertile men usually have impaired spermatogenesis, such as asthenospermia and oligozoospermia [5]. The causes of male infertility are complex and remain largely unknown. There has been a significant decline in male fertility and semen quality in recent decades. Exposure to environmental and occupational pollution has been linked to the quality of male semen [6]
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