title: Effects of long-term cadmium exposure on the testis of rabbits: ultrastructural study.
abstract: Six male rabbits received for 9 months drinking water containing 20 micrograms/ml of cadmium (Cd). At the end of the treatment, the Cd contents of kidney and testis were 175 +/- 34 and 0.8 +/- 0.2 micrograms/g wet weight, respectively. Ultrastructural examination by transmission electron microscopy (EM) showed that, in the Sertoli cells, the size of the lysosomes was increased; spermatogenetic cells, vessels and Leydig cells showed no significant alterations. Observations with both transmission and scanning EM did not evidence changes in the blood-testis barrier, but our results do not exclude that male fertility may be affected by chronic exposure to cadmium.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism; D002105:Cadmium Poisoning / Q000473:pathology*; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011817:Rabbits; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013997:Time Factors; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002104:Cadmium; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc