title: Environmentally Realistic Doses of Cadmium as a Possible Etiologic Agent for Idiopathic Pathologies.
abstract: Cadmium is a heavy metal of increasing environmental concern that has long been associated to several human pathological processes. Recent population surveys have correlated cadmium non-occupational exposure to widespread idiopathic pathologies. Food and tobacco are reported to be the main exposure sources of cadmium to the general population, as phosphate fertilizers are rich in such a metal, thus contaminating the crops. Although its mechanisms of toxicity are not a consensus in the literature, it is well established that reactive oxygen species play a key role in this process, leading to the oxidation of several biological molecules. We have therefore assessed whether three environmentally realistic doses of cadmium alter the oxidative status of Wistar rat testis and eventually result in histological damages. Our results show that even the lowest environmental dose of cadmium was able to disturb the endogenous antioxidant system in Wistar testis, although an increase in lipid peroxidation was observed only within the group exposed to the highest environmental dose. Despite that no remarkable morphological changes were observed in any group, significant alterations in blood vessel lumen were reported for some cadmium-exposed animals, suggesting that endothelium is one of the primary targets involved in cadmium toxicity.
authors: Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors: Rodrigo
authors: R
authors: Leite
authors: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Tecidual, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors: Eduardo F
authors: EF
authors: Peloso
authors: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Tecidual, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil. frgad@unicamp.br.
authors: Fernanda R
authors: FR
authors: Gadelha
authors: Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors: Mary A D
authors: MA
authors: Dolder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis*; D002105:Cadmium Poisoning / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000032:analysis; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000473:pathology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005308:Fertilizers; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002104:Cadmium; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Cadmium; Idiopathic pathologies; Oxidative stress