Effects of several anti-inflammatory drugs on cadmium-induced inflammation in rat testis

Abstract

To investigate the effect of several anti-inflammatory drugs on cadmium-induced inflammation in the testis of rat, the degree of intratesticular hemorrhage and lipoperoxide level in the testis were measured as a parameter of the inflammation. Alpha-tocopherol and coenzyme Q10which are well known as antioxidative agents had a potent antiinflammatory effect on cadmium-induced inflammation in rat testis. On the other hand, indomethacin and peonol which are supposed to be potent inhibitors of cyclooxygenase activity and prostaglandin synthesis, enhanced cadmium-induced intratesticular hemorrhage in a dose dependent manner. As for glucocorticoid (predonin) which has been reported to be an inhibitory protein on phospholipase A2activity, a moderate inhibitory effect on inflammatory changes in rat testis induced by cadmium was observed although it was statistically not significant. These results suggest that oxidative and inflammatory reaction induced by cadmium in rat testis may be considered not to be promoted by the accerelation of cyclooxygenase pathway in arachidonic acid cascade, but by the accerelation of lipoxygenase pathway or radical reaction mediated oxygenation of nonesterified polyunsaturated fatty acids, which has been reported to be increased in the inflammation in the testis of rat induced by cadmium.