Lithium protects against toxic effects of cadmium in the rat testes

Abstract

Purpose To investigate the protective effect of Lithium against the toxic effect of Cadmium in the rat testes. Methods Twenty four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with four different regimens: Cadmium only, Cadmium and lithium, lithium only and controls. Rats were sacrificed after 6 weeks and testicular levels of proinflammatory cytokine (IL-4), anti-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α), Pro-apoptotic protein (Bax) and anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2) were measured by ELISA while serum levels of FSH, LH, Prolactin and Testosterone were measured using the Vidas parametric system. Antioxidant status (MDA, SOD) was also assessed in serum. Histopathological changes of testes were examined using light and electron microscopy. Immunohistochemical staining for Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase 3 were performed. Results Treatment with lithium was associated with significant reduction in the toxic effects of Cadmium as shown by reduced testicular levels of TNF-α, serum levels of Malondialdehyde and testicular level of Bax, and increased levels of IL-4, Zn-Cu SOD, Bcl-2 and Testosterone. Testicular histopathology showed that Cadmium produced an extensive germ cells apoptosis and the addition of lithium in Cadmium-treated rats significantly reduced cadmium-induced testicular damage. Conclusion(s) Lithium has a protective effect against cadmium-induced testicular apoptosis in the rat.

Assessment of Molybdenum Induced Alteration in Oxidative Indices, Biochemical Parameters and Sperm Quality in Testis of Wistar Male Rats

“…In the present investigation, significant decline in the levels of serum FSH and LH was observed in ammonium molybdate treated rats. Similar decline in the level of FSH and LH has been observed in previous studies related to metal exposure in rats (Chandra et al, 2007;Al-Azemi et al, 2010).…”

Impaired expression of testicular androgen receptor and collagen fibers in the testis of diabetic rats under HAART: the role of Hypoxis hemerocallidea

“…For testicular cells, Sertoli cells were characterized by their large irregularly shaped nuclei on the basal layer of the seminiferous epithelium; myoid cells by their elongated nuclei around the periphery of the tubule; and Leydig cells by their round nuclei in the interstitial tissue. Assessment for androgen receptors was performed according to the following semi-quantitative scale: (-) negative; (+) weakly positive; (++) positive; and (+++) strongly positive [40]. …”

Comparison of Ferulic Acid and Sildenafil, Therapeutic Role against Testicular Injury Induced by Cadmium Chloride in Adult Male Albino Rat

“…[24] stated that cadmium produced an extensive germ cells apoptosis in Sprague-Dawley rats. Apoptosis is a physiological process that contributes to keeping the cell number in testicular tissue and helps to remove damaged cells, but excessive apoptosis could cause destruction of male reproductive function [25]. In the ferulic acid and Sildenafil-treated groups in the current study the normal histological structure of the testes was more or less preserved.…”