Assessment of Six Weeks Exposure to Cadmium Chloride on Fertility of Adult Male Mice

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of six weeks exposure to cadmium chloride (CdCl2) on the fertility and reproduction of Swiss albino adult male mice. Three groups of ten mice each were administered CdCl2 intraperitoneally at the concentrations of 0, 0.25 or 0.5 mg/Kg body weight, weekly for a period of six weeks. Control and exposed mice were allowed to mate with sexually mature unexposed females for ten days and their fertility was assessed 9 days later. Fertility was significantly reduced
in males injected with CdCl2. The number of pregnant females was significantly reduced in females mated with males that had
been injected with cadmium chloride at a concentration of 0.25 or 0.5 mg/Kg B.wt CdCl2. The total number of resorptions out
of the total number of implantation sites was significantly increased. Exposed males showed significant decreases in the seminal
vesicle weights. Testicular sperm counts were significantly reduced only in males exposed to 0.5 mg/Kg B.wt CdCl2. Moreover, a
significant decrease in the serum testosterone (T) level and a significant increase in both luteinizing (LH) and follicular stimulating
hormone( FSH) levels was observed. Mild histopathological changes were observed in testicular sections of adult male mice
injected intraperitoneally with cadmium chloride at both concentration of 0.25 or 0.5 mg/Kg B.wt for six weeks. These changes
included congested blood vessels, increased amount of interstitial connective tissue and mild destruction of the seminiferous
tubules with few necrotic areas and degenerative cells. These results suggest that exposure of adult male mice to cadmium chloride had adverse effects on fertility and reproduction.