Pubertal cadmium exposure impairs testicular development and spermatogenesis via disrupting testicular testosterone synthesis in adult mice.
Cadmium (Cd) is a well-known testicular toxicant. However, the effects of pubertal Cd exposure on testicular development and spermatogenesis remained to be elucidated. The present study investigated the effects of pubertal Cd exposure on testicular development and spermatogenesis. Male CD-1 mice were intraperitoneally injected with CdCl(2) (1mg/kg) daily from postnatal day 35 (PND35) to PND70. As expected, pubertal Cd exposure significantly decreased the number of spermatozoa in epididymides. In addition, pubertal Cd exposure markedly reduced the weights of testes, epididymides and prostate and seminal vesicle in adult mice. A significant decrease in serum and testicular testosterone (T) was observed in mice exposed to Cd during puberty. Moreover, pubertal Cd exposure markedly reduced mRNA and protein levels of testicular StAR, P450scc, P450(17alpha) and 17beta-HSD. Taken together, these results suggest that the decreased testicular T synthesis might partially contribute to pubertal Cd-induced impairment on testicular development and spermatogenesis in mice.
Ji
Yan-Li
YL
Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
Wang
Hua
H
Liu
Ping
P
Wang
Qun
Q
Zhao
Xian-Feng
XF
Meng
Xiu-Hong
XH
Yu
Tao
T
Zhang
Heng
H
Zhang
Cheng
C
Zhang
Ying
Y
Xu
De-Xiang
DX
D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D019256:Cadmium Chloride / Q000633:toxicity*; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein; D013739:Testosterone; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme; D019256:Cadmium Chloride