Impact of Cadmium on the Endocrine and Exocrine Sexual Activity in the Adult Male and Female Wistar Rats: Determination of an Apoptotic Process

The preferential accumulation of cadmium ions among various tissues in mice

“…Prominently increased TUNEL positive cells in myocardial section were noted in the Cd-200 group, whereas there were scarce TUNEL positive cells in the control group (data unpublished). Previous animal studies revealed that Cd induces apoptosis in kidney [ 42 , 67 ], testes [ 68 ] and bone [ 69 ]. Cd may induce cell apoptosis through affecting transcription factors [ 41 , 42 ], damage to mitochondrial due to accumulation of ROS [ 46 ] or increased permeability of mitochondrial inner membrane [ 43 ], or increased ER stress [ 47 ].…”

Ameliorative effects of a curcumin vitamin E nanocomposite coated with olive oil against cadmium chloride–induced testicular damage

“…Histopathological examination of Cd‐treated rat testicles revealed deterioration of the seminiferous tubules, attenuated sperm formation processes, and/or fibrils at the wall of the tube, which are all likely signs of Sertoli cell damage. According to Boujelben et al (2018), Cd salts can induce severe testicular injuries and impair fecundity. In this study, Cd significantly decreased seminiferous tubule diameter, germinal epithelial thickness, number of spermatogonia, and spermatocytes per tubular cross‐section and significantly increased lumen diameter compared with the control group.…”

Cadmium as a testicular toxicant: A Review

“…Other studies have shown the involve- Therefore, these studies represent the complexity of different apoptotic pathways through which Cd induces apoptosis of testicular germ cells in different species that will help us in elucidating a common mechanism of apoptotic induction by Cd in testes. to Cd toxicity in the rat was observed, where levels of serum testosterone were found to be low at the beginning of the experiment, reached a peak, and then gradually returned to control values in response to Cd treatment (Boujelben et al, 2018). During the in vitro study, the level of testosterone and the number of 3β-HSD-positive cells were significantly reduced in the Cd-exposed group compared with the control group in a concentration-dependent manner (Qing et al, 2013).…”

“…However, along with the reduced activities of 3β‐ and17β‐HSD, which are the key androgenic enzymes in testes, studies have also shown a significant decrease in the serum levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) due to Cd‐mediated toxicity in rodents (Almeer et al, 2018; El‐Maraghy & Nassar, 2011; Sadik, 2008), suggesting the involvement of pituitary gonadotropins in Cd‐induced inhibition of androgen production. A hormonal adaptation to Cd toxicity in the rat was observed, where levels of serum testosterone were found to be low at the beginning of the experiment, reached a peak, and then gradually returned to control values in response to Cd treatment (Boujelben et al, 2018). During the in vitro study, the level of testosterone and the number of 3β‐HSD‐positive cells were significantly reduced in the Cd‐exposed group compared with the control group in a concentration‐dependent manner (Qing et al, 2013).…”

“…Various morphological characteristics of apoptosis, eg, chromatin condensation and marginalization in primary spermatocytes, degeneration of cytoplasmic organelles, disappeared nuclear envelope in spermatogonium, and fragmentation of DNA were observed in Cd-intoxicated testes of freshwater crab (Sinopotamon henanense), along with increased activities of caspase-3 and -9 in a concentration-dependent manner(Wang et al, 2011). Other morphological and ultrastructural studies have also reported Cd-induced apoptosis of spermatogonia and spermatocytes in rodents(Boujelben, Abdennabi, Guermazi, & Elfeki, 2018;Niknafs et al, 2015), fish (Hirako, Takeoka, Furukawa, & Sugiyama, 2017) and newt (Hirako…”