Assessment of Six Weeks Exposure to Cadmium Chloride on Fertility of Adult Male Mice

Yıl 2011, Cilt: 5 Sayı: 3, 13 - 19, 01.11.2011

Ahmed Elbetıeha Neveen Tbeıleh Homa Darmanı

Öz

This study investigates the effect of six weeks exposure to cadmium chloride (CdCl2) on the fertility and reproduction of Swiss albino adult male mice. Three groups of ten mice each were administered CdCl2 intraperitoneally at the concentrations of 0, 0.25 or 0.5 mg/Kgbody weight, weekly for a period of six weeks. Control and exposed mice were allowed to mate with sexually mature unexposed females for ten days and their fertility was assessed 9 days later. Fertility was significantly reduced in males injected with CdCl2. The number of pregnant females was significantly reduced in females mated with males that had been injected with cadmium chloride at a concentration of 0.25 or 0.5 mg/Kg B.wt CdCl2. The total number of resorptions out of the total number of implantation sites was significantly increased. Exposed males showed significant decreases in the seminal vesicle weights. Testicular sperm counts were significantly reduced only in males exposed to 0.5 mg/Kg B.wt CdCl2. Moreover, a significant decrease in the serum testosterone (T) level and a significant increase in both luteinizing (LH) and follicular stimulating hormone( FSH) levels was observed. Mild histopathological changes were observed in testicular sections of adult male mice injected intraperitoneally with cadmium chloride at both concentration of 0.25 or 0.5 mg/Kg B.wt for six weeks. These changes included congested blood vessels, increased amount of interstitial connective tissue and mild destruction of the seminiferous tubules with few necrotic areas and degenerative cells. These results suggest that exposure of adult male mice to cadmium chloride had adverse effects on fertility and reproduction

Anahtar Kelimeler

CdCl2, fertility, male mice