THE DESTRUCTIVE EFFECT OF CADMIUM ION ON TESTICULAR TISSUE AND ITS PREVENTION BY ZINC

Abstract

SUMMARY The subcutaneous administration of cadmium salts (cadmium chloride or lactate) to male rats and mice leads to acute destruction of the testes, with destruction of the seminiferous epithelium and interstitial tissue. These changes in turn evoke castration phenomena, but the atrophied accessory sex organs retain the ability to react to testosterone propionate. Within 20 days after the injection of cadmium, proliferation of fibroblasts in the interstitial spaces under the albuginea begins and is accompanied by an extensive formation of new blood vessels. Later, new Leydig cells appear; this is followed by a gradual return of the endocrine function of the testes. The spermatogenic epithelium of the seminiferous tubules, on the other hand, does not regenerate even 133 days after the injection of cadmium. The simultaneous administration of a large dose of zinc salts protects the testes completely against cadmium damage. The mechanism of interaction between these physico-chemically related metals and the theoretical and practical significance of these observations will be studied further.