The effects of long-term exposure to low doses of cadmium on the health of the next generation of mice

Publication date: Available online 3 September 2019Source: Chemico-Biological InteractionsAuthor(s): Tianfeng Zhang, Xiaohan Gao, Xue Luo, Lianbing Li, Mingfu Ma, Yijian Zhu, Letian Zhao, Renyan LiAbstractCadmium (Cd) is an important toxic chemical due to its increasing levels in the environment and bioaccumulation in humans and animals. The present study was performed to evaluate the effects of long-term exposure to 1, 10, or 100 μg/L Cd in drinking water on the development, reproduction and neurotoxicity of offspring when administered to mice from parental puberty to postnatal 10 weeks in offspring. The development parameters measured in offspring included physical development, reflex ontogeny, body weight and body size. The reproductive indices measured consisted of anogenital distances (AGDs), estrous cycle, sperm quality, specific gene expression in Leydig or Sertoli cells, seminiferous epithelium cycle, sex hormone levels, histological morphology and apoptosis in testis or ovary, and the levels of oxidative stress. The determination of neurotoxicity included learning and memory ability, anxiety, and related serum indicators. In addition, blood lipid level, liver and kidney function were also determined by serum biochemical assays. The results showed that exposure to Cd in the present model had no adverse effects on development, but had some reproductive toxicity and neurotoxicity, including alteration of spermatogenic epithelial staging in testis and inducing anxiety...
Source: Chemico Biological Interactions - Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research