Testicular toxicity induced by dietary cadmium in cocks and ameliorative effect by selenium

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is an ubiquitous environmental pollutant that has been associated with male reproductive toxicity in animal models. However, little is known about the reproductive toxicity of Cd in birds. To investigate the toxicity of Cd on male reproduction in birds and the protective effects of selenium (Se) against subchronic exposure to dietary Cd, 100-day-old cocks received either Se (as 10 mg Na(2)SeO(3) per kg of diet), Cd (as 150 mg CdCl(2) per kg of diet) or Cd + Se in their diets for 60 days. Histological and ultrastructural changes in the testis, the concentrations of Cd and Se, amount of lipid peroxidation (LPO), the activities of the antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and apoptosis and serum testosterone levels were determined. Exposure to Cd significantly lowered SOD and GPx activity, Se content in the testicular tissue, and serum testosterone levels. It increased the amount of LPO, the numbers of apoptotic cells and Cd concentration and caused obvious histopathological changes in the testes. Concurrent treatment with Se reduced the Cd-induced histopathological changes in the testis, oxidative stress, endocrine disorder and apoptosis, suggesting that the toxic effects of cadmium on the testes is ameliorated by Se. Se supplementation also modified the distribution of Cd in the testis.

The role of organic selenium in cadmium toxicity: effects on broiler performance and health status

“…However, basopenia has been reported in association with stress-and druginduced reactions and autoimmune diseases (Grattan et al, 2003), but further research is indispensable to clarify the results of the present study. Other studies with concurrent Cd and inorganic Se addition in feed or drinking water showed that although Se could not counteract for Cd-induced decreased performance it improved other examined parameters such as tissue structural damages, antioxidant defence and apoptosis (Jihen et al, 2008;Li et al, 2010b).…”

“…The same authors reported that intraperitoneal Cd administration (0.32 to 1.62 mg/kg BW) to hens did not cause negative effects on BW, feed intake and haematocrit but reduced egg production. In another study by Li et al (2010b), cocks were fed a diet with 10 mg/kg of inorganic Se or 150 mg/kg of Cd or a combination of those levels. The authors reported reduced final BW in the Cd group compared with the other groups.…”

Antioxidant Systems in Poultry Biology: Superoxide Dismutase

“…Administration of cadmium to chickens decreased SOD activities in various tissues, including liver [137][138], kidney [139], blood [140], ovary [141], testes [142] and splenic lymphocytes in vitro [143]. Usually, decreased SOD activity was accompanied by decreased GSH-Px activity and increased lipid peroxidation in the same tissues.…”

Effect of Selenium on Carbimazole-Induced Histopathological and Histochemical Alterations in Prostate of Albino Rats

“…Grotto et al [39] reported that in rats chronically exposed to low levels of methylmercury, selenium co-administration showed a significant reduction in methylmercury-induced genotoxicity, reestablished glutathione peroxidase activity and reduced and Histochemical Alterations in Prostate of Albino Rats DNA damage. Selenium reduced the cadmium induced histopathological changes in testes of rat, oxidative stress, endocrine disorder and apoptosis [40,41]. On the contrary, Adesiyan et al [42] reported that selenium had no protective effects against atrazine-induced biochemical alterations in testis and epididymis except testicular lactate dehydrogenase.…”