NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT
Journal of the Faculties of Science and Agriculture, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria
ISSN: 1119-9008
DOI: 10.5987/UJ-NJSE
Email: njse@universityjournals.org
CADMIUM-INDUCED TESTICULAR TOXICITY: COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF PREAND POST-TREATMENTS WITH VITAMINS C AND E
DOI: 10.5987/UJ-NJSE.16.018.2 | Article Number: BF831D18 | Vol.12 (2) - September 2013
Authors: ADAIKPOH M.A and ORHUE N.E.J
Keywords: Wistar Rats., Climate change, cadmium-toxicity, urinary creatine, testis
Cadmium, a toxic metal, is known to exert a number of deleterious effects on health. However, it is
less harmful when bound to rocks. Climate change, resulting from such phenomena as acid rain,
promotes the breakdown and consequent release of bound cadmium. Flushing of inactive and active
mines by flood lead to changes in cadmium levels in soil and underground water bodies. The
effect of vitamins C and E on rat testis pre- and post-treatment with cadmium, using urinary
creatine as marker of testicular toxicity was investigated in this study. Male Wistar rats (n=24)
were divided into 4 groups; control (n=6) and test group (n=18); divided into groups that received
cadmium only (CT), those treated with the vitamins before cadmium exposure (Cd24V) and those
treated with the vitamins post cadmium exposure (Cd1V). Results indicate a significant (p<0.05)
increase in urinary creatine that was temporarily relieved by the Cd1V treatment. Relative to both
control and the CT-treatment groups, the Cd24V treatment significantly (p<0.05) reduced urinary
creatine 24hrs before sacrifice,. Histological sections of the control testis showed numerous
seminiferous tubules undergoing sequential spermatogenesis while sections of the CT- and Cd1Vtreated
rat testis showed extensive coagulative necrosis affecting all the tubules. There was also
hyperplasia of interstitial cells of the leydig. Relative to the control and CT-treated rat testis, sections
of the Cd24V rat testis showed numerous seminiferous tubules filled with germ cells undergoing
sequential spermatogenesis. There were eosinophilic exudates in the interstitium with mild
acute inflammatory cell infilterate. In this study, biochemical and histological investigations indicate
cadmium toxicity of the testis. It also shows that post-treatment of cadmium-exposed rats with
the vitamins were ineffective in protecting the testis while pre-treatment ameliorated the toxic effect
of the metal.
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