Effect of chronic cadmium exposure via drinking water on pathology of the testis in rats

To investigate the damage effect of chronic cadmium exposure via drinking water on rat testis,thirty sexually mature male SD rats were equally divided into five groups. The rats in these groups drank water with five concentrations of cadmium( Cd Cl2) including 0,25,50,100 and 200 mg / L for 56 days,respectively. The changes in body mass of rats in each group were recorded on a regular basis during the experiment,and then the pathological changes of testicular tissue from sacrificed rats were observed after the end of exposure. The results showed that in comparison with the control group,the body mass in each exposure groups was lower than that in the control group,and there was a significant difference( P 0. 05) when the concentration of cadmium reached 50 mg / L,and the testicular mass in the cadmium group of 200 mg / L was extremely significantly decreased( P 0. 01); denatured and necrotic spermatogonia and all levels of spermatocytes and sperm cells were observed in testicular seminiferous tubules from the cadmium group of 50 mg / L by an optical microscope,serious degeneration and necrosis was found with increase of the concentration of cadmium. Condensed chromatin,swelled cytoplasmic mitochondria,and disappeared cristae were observed in the testicular germ cells under the lens and electron microscope. The results indicate that cadmium can affect the growth and development of male rats,and cause the pathological injury of rat testis.