Abstract
Objective: To investigate the role of zinc in reducing the deleterious effects of cadmium on male gonads.
Methods: Rats were injected subcutaneously with CdCl2 and ZnCl2 at dose level of 2.2 mg/kg (1/40 of LD50 of cadmium per day).
Results: The rats treated with cadmium exhibited a significant increase in levels of testicular malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, nitrogen oxide and inducible nitrogen oxide synthase immunostaining reaction, as well as an elevation of blood hydroperoxide and follicle stimulating hormone. In addition, a significant decrease in testicular ascorbic acid, zinc, reduced glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, sex organ weight, plasma testosterone and luteinizing hormone were observed in the cadmium group. Sperm motility and count were decreased with cadmium treatment, while sperm abnormalities elevated significantly. Zinc treatment was found to mitigate the toxic effects of cadmium on oxidative stress, spermatogenesis, sex hormones, and inflammatory markers. Rats injected with cadmium showed intense histopathological changes. Zinc manifested protective role and markedly reduced tissues damage induced by cadmium.
Conclusions: The protective effect of zinc can be attributed to its antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties.