title: Testicular histomorphometry and ultrastructure of rats treated with cadmium and Ginkgo biloba.
abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate the association of a single low dose of Cd and daily doses of Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) on the testis and accessory glands of rats. The animals were treated with a single dose of 3 µmol/kg body weight of cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) and/or 100 mg/kg body weight of GbE. The plasma testosterone levels; corporal, testicular, and accessory glands weight; gonadosomatic index, volumetric proportion; and absolute volume of testicular components did not change after the treatments. CdCl₂ caused significant reduction in Leydig cells volume and altered Leydig cell morphology, as well as vacuolated Sertoli cells cytoplasm, irregular chromatin condensation of late spermatids, and modified acrosome formation. However, animals that received GbE did not show these alterations. The reversal of Cd-induced alterations by the extract is a strong indication that G. biloba is helpful in diminishing the effect of Cd toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Cellular Biology, Physiology and Biophysics, State University of Campinas, Campinas, CP 6109, São Paulo 13083-863, Brazil. fpredes@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Fabrícia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Souza Predes
authors.forename: Juliana Castro
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Sérgio Luis Pinto
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Matta
authors.forename: Márcia C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dolder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D020441:Ginkgo biloba / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D002104:Cadmium; D013739:Testosterone