Acute Cadmium Intoxication: Influence of Cyproterone Acetate on the Testis and Epididymis of the Rat

Abstract

The changes resulting from treatment with cadmium were studied following the histological changes, the modification of both vascular permeability to vital dyes and of alkaline phosphatase activity in rat testis and epididymis. The testicular extravasation of acriflavine started 90 min following parenteral injection of cadmium and increased thereafter synchronous with an increase in testicular and epididymal weights due to edema.

At 14 and 24 hr a striking decrease of interstitial fluorescence and tubular degeneration were noted in testis and caput epididymis due to thrombosis of the microvascular circulation. The degeneration of seminiferous tubular cells was preceded by a disruption of the blood-testis barrier noted at 8 hr following cadmium injection. No changes of alkaline phosphatase activity was detected in testicular and epididymal blood vessels after cadmium injection. Previous treatment with cyproterone acetate accelerated the appearance of such alterations. The interstitial nuclear staining with acriflavine appeared in the testis at 1 hr and was diffuse at 90 and 120 min. Cyproterone acetate seemed to accelerate the appearance of tubular degeneration at 8 hr after cadmium injection.

The changes of the male rat gonad following cadmium treatment were characterized by an increased vascular permeability and generalized thrombosis. An inbalance of androgen stimulation seems to increase the blood vessels susceptibility to cadmium.

Key Words:

• Cadmium intoxication
• Blood-testis barrier
• Testicular microcirculation