title: The protection of selenium on cadmium-induced inhibition of spermatogenesis via activating testosterone synthesis in mice.
abstract: Selenium (Se) is an essential trance element in testis. However, the potential protective effects of Se against cadmium (Cd)-induced reproductive toxicity remained to be elucidated. Male ICR mice were orally administered by gavage with Na2SeO3 (0.1, 0.2, 0.4 mg/kg BW) for 1h prior to CdCl2 (5 mg/kg BW) alone or in combination for 15, 25 or 35 days. Cd exposure caused a significant decrease in body weight, sperm concentration and motility as well as plasma testosterone level which was accompanied by decreased antioxidant enzymatic activity of SOD and GSH-Px and by increased lipid peroxidation (as malondialdehyde, MDA). Se pretreatment compensated deficits in the sperm parameters (concentration, motility and morphology) induced by Cd. Se (0.4 mg/kg BW) treatment significantly increased serum testosterone level that was reduced by Cd (on 15th, 25th and 35th day) (P<0.01). Se treatment ameliorated Cd-induced reduction in testicular steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) activities. The present study suggest that the protective potential of Se against Cd-induced reprotoxicity might be due to up-regulation StAR and testosterone synthetic enzyme activity, which could be useful for increasing testosterone synthesis for achieving optimum protection in sperm quality and spermatogenesis.
authors: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors: Xiang-mei
authors: XM
authors: Ren
authors: Gai-gai
authors: GG
authors: Wang
authors: Dong-qing
authors: DQ
authors: Xu
authors: Kang
authors: K
authors: Luo
authors: Yu-xin
authors: YX
authors: Liu
authors: Yi-hong
authors: YH
authors: Zhong
authors: Yun-qing
authors: YQ
authors: Cai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009929:Organ Size; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D013739:Testosterone; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D012643:Selenium